Woj on 'EEI: If Cs trade, Pierce most likely one to go:Rondo only for star

[Donoghus]

Maybe with the imminent signing of J.R. Smith by the Knicks and the way the Heat are pursuing Kaman:

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/219036/Report_Heat_Hope_To_Sign_Kaman_Next_Month

...the Bulls feel pressure to keep up in the East and panic a little and feel they need Pierce even more and give us more than they normally might. We know Thibs loves him and vice versa.

Do they give us Asik, Taj, Butler filler and their two 1sts (theirs and Bobcats protected forever)for the Captain. Is that enough? Do they do it? Don't think we will get Deng out of them, even if he is injured, or maybe that is why we would get Deng out of them.

I don't get the sense that Chicago is panicking at all.  Almost positive they feel they can win the East with what they already have.

The biggest issue with them is Derrick Rose's back and if that worsens, all the trades in the world isn't going to save that team's season.

[Inside-Out]

Oh,gosh...trade Pierce to chase a ring elsewhere, let KG, Ray, and JO expire...

I can't possibly see this season going that badly.  I just can't.  Even as an 8th seed, a case can be made that this team is dangerous in the playoffs.  At least sell tickets, then rebuild in the offsseason, and sell tickets again.  Why just punt?

[rondohondo]

Maybe with the imminent signing of J.R. Smith by the Knicks and the way the Heat are pursuing Kaman:

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/219036/Report_Heat_Hope_To_Sign_Kaman_Next_Month

...the Bulls feel pressure to keep up in the East and panic a little and feel they need Pierce even more and give us more than they normally might. We know Thibs loves him and vice versa.

Do they give us Asik, Taj, Butler filler and their two 1sts (theirs and Bobcats protected forever)for the Captain. Is that enough? Do they do it? Don't think we will get Deng out of them, even if he is injured, or maybe that is why we would get Deng out of them.

I don't get the sense that Chicago is panicking at all.  Almost positive they feel they can win the East with what they already have.

The biggest issue with them is Derrick Rose's back and if that worsens, all the trades in the world isn't going to save that team's season.

how can they feel they have enough to win the East when they have the exact same team as last year and got whooped in 5 games by the Heat? The Heat have added Battier since last year and if Kaman gets bought out they would be front runners to land him .

Meanwhile Rose's back is a concern, Rip Hamilton has been hurt all year it is pretty washed up IMO. They could definitely use PP leadership and scoring ability.

[goCeltics]

don't see how a trade with chi town works what the use of swapping deng with paul, if anything that is a backward move, unless we take boozer, which i would only take if they gave us 4 unprotected first round picks.

[Employee8]

I'm not even looking at stats anymore.  It's about the franchise, it's about what Red stood for all these years.  It's why we've been so successful and the model is not about to change.  If the player is loyal to you, you're loyal to him.

Pierce is that one player for which we need to set aside the mentality of "the team must always improve at any opportunity!!!" He's a once in a generation type of player for us, like Kobe is for the Lakers, Duncan is for the Spurs, etc.  He's gotta be untouchable and to trade him for anybody is to be too greedy.

Maybe I'm old school like that but this is the price we pay for his loyalty.  He stays with us.  (Crosses arms).

[alley oop]

I still want to fight the case for Pierce for Gay

Love that trade idea. Been wanting it for a while, but I don't see it with ZBo out.

Zbo is expected back the beginning of March.

[LooseCannon]

I really think that trading Pierce makes more sense in the off-season.  There are several teams that are capable of clearing the cap space to absorb his contract.

I can envision a scenario where the Celtics use Bird rights to bring back Garnett and Allen and even Jeff Green, then flip Pierce to a team for a trade exception and a draft pick and/or young player, then use that trade exception to acquire an unhappy superstar.

[goCeltics]

I still want to fight the case for Pierce for Gay

Love that trade idea. Been wanting it for a while, but I don't see it with ZBo out.

Zbo is expected back the beginning of March.

i throw in allen for i do pierce+allen, plus at least 1 1st rounder for gay+mayo.

only problem is that griz are near the tax, and their a small market team.

also pauls stinky displays are hurting whatever trade value he had. he has a .375 fg% in feb, if paul could still play we wouldn't be trading him.

[PosImpos]

Seeing Pierce get traded would definitely make this season suck several times worse than it does now.

It would, from a sentimental standpoint.

I think Pierce probably should go, one way or another, for the best interests of the team.  He doesn't have a lot of value for a rebuilding team (which we absolutely will be after this season).

[LarBrd33]

Seeing Pierce get traded would definitely make this season suck several times worse than it does now.

depends on what we get out of it.  If it's for Granger... I agree. 

[Celtics4ever]

I have always thought shooting would be at a premium and have thought that Ray and PP were the most likely to be in demand at the trade deadline.

[j804]

I saw some quotes via twitter of Ainge today on WEEI anybody have the interview link ?

[Chris]

I still want to fight the case for Pierce for Gay

Love that trade idea. Been wanting it for a while, but I don't see it with ZBo out.

Zbo is expected back the beginning of March.

i throw in allen for i do pierce+allen, plus at least 1 1st rounder for gay+mayo.

only problem is that griz are near the tax, and their a small market team.

also pauls stinky displays are hurting whatever trade value he had. he has a .375 fg% in feb, if paul could still play we wouldn't be trading him.

Eh, those numbers are after he put the team on his back for a 7 or 8 game stretch.  Everyone knows he is getting up there in age, but they also know that he is still one of the best in the business when you need him most. 

[Donoghus]

Maybe with the imminent signing of J.R. Smith by the Knicks and the way the Heat are pursuing Kaman:

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/219036/Report_Heat_Hope_To_Sign_Kaman_Next_Month

...the Bulls feel pressure to keep up in the East and panic a little and feel they need Pierce even more and give us more than they normally might. We know Thibs loves him and vice versa.

Do they give us Asik, Taj, Butler filler and their two 1sts (theirs and Bobcats protected forever)for the Captain. Is that enough? Do they do it? Don't think we will get Deng out of them, even if he is injured, or maybe that is why we would get Deng out of them.

I don't get the sense that Chicago is panicking at all.  Almost positive they feel they can win the East with what they already have.

The biggest issue with them is Derrick Rose's back and if that worsens, all the trades in the world isn't going to save that team's season.

how can they feel they have enough to win the East when they have the exact same team as last year and got whooped in 5 games by the Heat? The Heat have added Battier since last year and if Kaman gets bought out they would be front runners to land him .

Meanwhile Rose's back is a concern, Rip Hamilton has been hurt all year it is pretty washed up IMO. They could definitely use PP leadership and scoring ability.

The poster asked if Chicago might panic into a trade for Pierce.  They won't.  They're not looking at what the Knicks are doing and feeling the need to shake things up.  If they are, its certainly flying under the radar with both the media here and the fanbase. 

Like I mentioned, the biggest concern here is Rose's back.  That won't be alleiviated by a trade if he can't get back on the court and be his old self.  They're screwed if that happens. 

Sure, there is concern about whether or not they can get by Miami after last season but they're also playing better team basketball than last year's incarnation.  A small tinker here or there but there is no sense that they're going to panic trade their way into something because of what New York or Miami is doing.

They also played Miami to a near standstill back on Jan. 29th only losing by 4 with no Deng or Watson in the lineup.  The rematch is Mar. 14.  Depending on the circumstances and result, then you might see some panicking but you're not seeing it right now.

[nickagneta]

It would break my heart to see Pierce in some other uniform and it would completely ruin what can only be categorized as nicely as possible as a disappointment of a season. However, if the rebuilding has to start now and Danny feels he will maximize his return in getting some quasi-contender to think Pierce is the piece to the puzzle to get them a ring, then so be it. But it had better be a heck of a deal that wipes years off the rebuilding process.