Pierce re-signs for 4yrs (3 guaranteed 4th year has options for team and Pierce)

[Eddie20]

http://bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/celtics/?p=709&srvc=home&position=recent

Pierce, Celtics reach agreement
Paul Pierce will remain a Celtic.

The club has reached agreement with its captain on a new contract, according to sources. The deal is said to be for four years, with only the first three fully guaranteed.

The papers cannot be signed or officially announced until next week.

Pierce opted out of the final year of his previous contract and became an unrestricted free agent at 12:01 Thursday. But he took that route with the intention of re-signing with the Celtics in a deal that would help his own future and allow the club better maneuverability.

The numbers were not available, but Pierce will in the 2010-11 season make significantly less that the $21,513,521 he was scheduled to receive. That will aid the Celtics’ position versus the luxury tax.

[Brendan]

http://bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/celtics/?p=709&srvc=home&position=recent

Pierce, Celtics reach agreement
Paul Pierce will remain a Celtic.

The club has reached agreement with its captain on a new contract, according to sources. The deal is said to be for four years, with only the first three fully guaranteed.

The papers cannot be signed or officially announced until next week.

Pierce opted out of the final year of his previous contract and became an unrestricted free agent at 12:01 Thursday. But he took that route with the intention of re-signing with the Celtics in a deal that would help his own future and allow the club better maneuverability.

The numbers were not available, but Pierce will in the 2010-11 season make significantly less that the $21,513,521 he was scheduled to receive. That will aid the Celtics’ position versus the luxury tax.

tp for getting it first

[Bankshot]

Excellent!  I really don't care what the numbers are.

[Eddie20]

Excellent!  I really don't care what the numbers are.

I actually can't wait to see the numbers. I hope that the deal is frontloaded so it gives us more cap space to still be major players in the 2012 FA market.

[kozlodoev]

The salary number is really not that relevant. We're not getting under the cap, and Pierce has and will deserve every penny he's getting.

Four years with a team option for the fourth is absolutely perfect, especially if the contract starts in the vicinity of $10,000,000, as I imagine it would. Pierce may be looking to retire by that time, and his contract may end up being a very valuable trading chip (think Rasheed Wallace on steroids).

[clover]

Good for Pierce!  Seems like he handled this absolutely perfectly.  Kept it out of the press, didn't wait for max possible offers elsewhere, only three years fully guaranteed and helped by taking some of the money later.  If the C's went crazy with the dollars committed three years out that's their fault, not  his.

[misha]

The number for that third year is important. That will be the year after KG's contract expires and C's will rebuilding.

[Drucci]

Great news! Welcome back Paul, although you never really left!

I hope the thid year is not too expensive because it would kill our flexibility. I like the team option for the 4th one. Seems like a fair deal for both sides.

[Rondo2287]

Kinda Weird that the herald are the only ones reporting this.  No ESPN, Globe, or RealGM. 

[Kwhit10]

I like the 4th yr team option.  I was expecting him to ask for a full 4 years.  As others have stated I hope it's front loaded to help transition our rebuilding in a few years.

[CelticsWhat35]

I'm hoping that the owners are less worried about the luxury tax than they are salary cap flexibility.  Otherwise, it would be a backloaded contract with a higher salary once KG expires.  That would not be good.

[Mike-Dub]

Great news! Welcome back Paul, although you never really left!

I hope the thid year is not too expensive because it would kill our flexibility. I like the team option for the 4th one. Seems like a fair deal for both sides.

Yeah awesome news to wake up to!  Hopefully the third year isn't too expensive like you said Drucci.  Great news though and I feel like it is a fair deal for Paul and the team.

[Redz]

doc down
cap'n down
get ray ray back in tow

may as well, huh

[Kuberski33]

Kinda Weird that the herald are the only ones reporting this.  No ESPN, Globe, or RealGM. 

That's the value of Bulpett as a reporter.  He's the most wired in of all the Celtics beat writers right now.

[Kuberski33]

I like the 4th yr team option.  I was expecting him to ask for a full 4 years.  As others have stated I hope it's front loaded to help transition our rebuilding in a few years.

I guess the team option gives them some flexibility.  Maybe KG doesn't decline as much as expected and there's still enough talent here to contend in year 4 (doubtful, I know, but one never knows)

Very curious what the numbers will be....