Paul Pierce can not be traded, would be a shame to Boston, he is a legend.

[CelticsFanNC]

  I disagree.

  Would I like to see Pierce retire in Boston?  Sure.

  Is it practical?  Probably not.

  Cap space alone wont rebuild this team.  Elite FA's probably wont come to Boston unless we are viewed as a title contender not an old folks home. We need assets.  Assets we can turn around and trade for All-Star level talent as Ainge did in the summer of 2007.

  It usually takes 3 All-Star level players to truly contend in the NBA.  We have one in place with Rondo so I wouldn't be in a rush to deal him away unless you're getting someone of equal or greater value in return.  Any other kind of deal involving Rondo would be counter productive.

  Trading away the Big Three including Pierce is probably the only way we start to accumulate the assets needed to rebuild this thing without a number of years in the lottery which no one wants to see.

  Pierce will always be a Celtic regardless.  Joe Montana is a 49er not a KC Chief.  JoJo White is a Celtic not a GS Warrior.  When Pierce is ready to retire the Celtics can sign him to a one day contract allowing him to retire a Celtic and have a nice ceremony celebrating his great career.

  Loyalty to older players breeds mediocrity and I have no desire to return to the 1990's.

[Celtics4ever]

it is a business but what makes the celtics family different is that we keep guys like paul
hey didn't whine and force a trade when he certainly could have prior to kg, ray & rondo

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?  This is a business and if we had never traded Ed McCauley (7 time all star) and Cliff Hagan (5 time all star) we would never had landed Russell.  Even Red traded an all star for his guy.  Both of these guys are HOF guys and they played for us and were traded.  So when did this myth start?

i think danny never got over the fact that he was the guy traded for eddie & joe because he was easily replaced compared to an aging bird or mchale

I agree with this one and it does not bode well for those against the trade.   He was traded so he is not going to mind trading others, folks.

What 70's rebuild?   We were pretty relevant most of the 70's with Cowens and Havlichek.  You do realize we won two championships in the 70's?  We won in 74 and 76.  We had a losing record in 70, 78 and 79.  I would call those reloads not rebuilding phases.

Jan Volk did the Ainge trade not Red.  Red would trade guys to stay relevant...

[2short]

it is a business but what makes the celtics family different is that we keep guys like paul
hey didn't whine and force a trade when he certainly could have prior to kg, ray & rondo

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?  This is a business and if we had never traded Ed McCauley (7 time all star) and Cliff Hagan (5 time all star) we would never had landed Russell.  Even Red traded an all star for his guy.  Both of these guys are HOF guys and they played for us and were traded.  So when did this myth start?

i think danny never got over the fact that he was the guy traded for eddie & joe because he was easily replaced compared to an aging bird or mchale

I agree with this one and it does not bode well for those against the trade.   He was traded so he is not going to mind trading others, folks.

What 70's rebuild?   We were pretty relevant most of the 70's with Cowens and Havlichek.  You do realize we won two championships in the 70's?  We won in 74 and 76.  We had a losing record in 70, 78 and 79.  I would call those reloads not rebuilding phases.

Jan Volk did the Ainge trade not Red.  Red would trade guys to stay relevant...

referring to end of 70's before bird came aboard, that was some tough basketball to watch, the tommy coached team is one of my favorites

[Redz]

Pierce had no worries about playing elsewhere prior to teaming up with KG & Ray.  I'd love to see him finish out his career here but if it helps the franchise then he's got to be moved. Everyone involved will get over it.

Karl Malone
Patrick Ewing
Hakeem Olajuwon
Dominique Wilkkins
Chris Mullin

[jiriwelsch]

As a fan, you have to say keep Pierce forever

[nicknorman]

I have to wonder how many lived through the rebuild of the 90s.   This is a business and we are not a free agent mecca.  Better to get something than get nothing.   Oh yeah, at least we would have our integrity that will help us win....

I just don't think any trade idea would make sense for the Celtics because of the money Pierce is making.  We would have to take on similar money, and no team has a player that is as good that they are willing to give up.  Do you think injury prone Rudy Gay would be worth it?

Im a fan of both Pierce and the Celtics and don't want to see him traded.

[Celtics4ever]

I too think they are nigh untradeable.   I look at the Clippers and just don't see a trade that works.  But if we can do it we should, if they don't start performing.

[hwangjini_1]

Pierce had no worries about playing elsewhere prior to teaming up with KG & Ray.  I'd love to see him finish out his career here but if it helps the franchise then he's got to be moved. Everyone involved will get over it.

Karl Malone
Patrick Ewing
Hakeem Olajuwon
Dominique Wilkkins
Chris Mullin

And don't forget nomar.  If the sox can trade nomar then the celtics can trade pierce.  I just hope the team gets something valuable to help the rebuild.

Basically, I trust ainge.

[Ogaju]

Players hardly show any loyalty to teams when they negotiate their contracts, and that is okay but the corrollary is that the team should not owe any undue loyalty to the players when their talents wane and they become a liability to the team

I actually put the onus on the declining player to do the right thing and tell the team that it is okay to trade him for a better deal. Negotiating in the NBA should always be at arms length - this after all is still about the bottom line, and that is ruled by winning.

If the player is not bringing it on the court, he should be man enough to retire or understand that he will be moved.

Remember, that when the Cs were losing PP was ready to bail!

[Marcus13]

I could care less.  These guys are professionals and their job is to win.  If they can't handle their job responsibilities anymore, it's time for them to go

[Redz]

Pierce had no worries about playing elsewhere prior to teaming up with KG & Ray.  I'd love to see him finish out his career here but if it helps the franchise then he's got to be moved. Everyone involved will get over it.

Karl Malone
Patrick Ewing
Hakeem Olajuwon
Dominique Wilkkins
Chris Mullin

And don't forget nomar.  If the sox can trade nomar then the celtics can trade pierce.  I just hope the team gets something valuable to help the rebuild.

Basically, I trust ainge.

Yeh, I was just thinking hoops, but my god, the list is endless

Dwight Evans
Robin Yount
Paul Molitor
Stanley Morgan (that one actually bothered me some)
Ben Coates
Bobby Orr for goodness sake!
Willie Mays


guys who play their whole career with one team are the exception

[Roy H.]

guys who play their whole career with one team are the exception

No doubt.  And if fans want to see Pierce be one of those rare exceptions, and would rather have the pleasure of watching him play in green over the next two seasons, that's definitely a valid opinion.

[Redz]

guys who play their whole career with one team are the exception

No doubt.  And if fans want to see Pierce be one of those rare exceptions, and would rather have the pleasure of watching him play in green over the next two seasons, that's definitely a valid opinion.

I don't have a problem with it either way.  It would be a nice story if he stays here, but it wouldn't detract from his legacy whatsoever if he moved on.

[cman88]

it would be a shame to watch Kobe, dirk, duncan retire with their teams and not pierce.

plus, theres something to be said about having veteran leadership in the locker-room of a young team...it takes most young teams a long time to go anywhere because of a lack of maturity

[snively]

It would be a bummer to see Pierce in any other uniform.  But if he can put us in a better position to reload quickly by leaving, it would be worth it.

Certainly very capable of being a part of the team next season though.  Decent shot of living up to his contract.