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

[LooseCannon]

I think this suggests that, hypothetically, if Pierce and Rondo ever fail to get along to the point that neither wants to be on the same team as the other and both insist that one has to go, Ainge would prefer to keep Rondo and shop Pierce rather than the other way around.

Is there any chance of sufficient friction developing between the two over the direction of the team that such a situation is possible?

[GreenFaith1819]

Please - no trades...not ready to see either of these two go.

[OsirusCeltics]

I can't even fathom the thought of Pierce not wearing a Celtic jersey
Whatever team Pierce gets traded to, I'll will root for that team also
I don't care which team it is

[rondohondo]

I can't even fathom the thought of Pierce not wearing a Celtic jersey
Whatever team Pierce gets traded to, I'll will root for that team also
I don't care which team it is

Fakers ?

[OsirusCeltics]

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).

Thank you, exactly my thoughts
TP

[OsirusCeltics]

I can't even fathom the thought of Pierce not wearing a Celtic jersey
Whatever team Pierce gets traded to, I'll will root for that team also
I don't care which team it is

Fakers ?

Even though the thought of Pierce winning a title with the Lakers makes me puke
He was loyal to the Celtics, so I'll be loyal to him

[birdbrady]

Even though the thought of Pierce winning a title with the Lakers makes me puke
He was loyal to the Celtics, so I'll be loyal to him

There's been a new misconception about Pierce's loyalty to the Celtics that has evolved over a certain period of time.  I don't know why this happens, but there's a lot of stuff like this that happens.  The past just gets clouded over time when people start saying things.  I don't know how to put it.  Kinda like for example, when Russell retired and the immediate years after it - there was absolutely no doubt who was the better player (between him and Wilt.)  Russell was better and in 1980 was voted the greatest player of all time.  Then all of a sudden overtime, people's memories started getting meshy, and then there were analysts and fans that never saw those two play.  All of a sudden, people started going - "Russell played with stacks of HOFrs, of course Wilt was better!"

What I'm trying to get at is - I think we tend to forget certain things.  With the array of these new players seemingly forcing their way off of teams after 10 minutes in the league, we look favorable at Pierce.  And because Pierce remained on bad teams for a while, we give him this benefit of being loyal to the team.

Hate to say it, but while I appreciate Pierce for never coming out and publicly demanding trades like todays clowns do - this guy would have gladly accepted a change of scenery from the years 2004-2007.  One of the reason he was never dealt is because Danny thought he needed to have at least one star in place to build a team.  And all those Pierce rumors back then had us getting back the Corey Maggettes and Stromile Swifts of the world.  Do you not remember Pierce, who mailed in a 2004 playoff series against Indiana? Or when he disgraced himself with that ridiculous episode in Game 6 v Indiana the following year? That episode alone has always stained his legacy.  The casual Boston fans still has that in the back of their minds, and Pierce was reviled by especially the fan that looks at the NBA and the NBA players with a dirty eye.  That's why Pierce, despite bringing a long awaited championship back to Boston, and spending by far more time than any Boston sports star (or even semi-star) in this city than all of them, isn't even close to being one of the most beloved current athletes in this town.  After he re-upped in 2001, had a nice run in 2002 and did ok in 2003 - 2004-2007 was bad.  He was all but ready to demand a trade in 2007 after Garnett (and many other stars - Marion, Jermaine O'Neal) refused to play here.  He admitted as much  on a Dale-Holley interview back in 2008-2009ish.  It was even reported back late June by Adrian Woj here: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-pierce062507

Let's not overstate Pierce's loyalty to Boston.  This is getting out there because I feel Pierce wants to finish his career here and play on one team his whole career and make a run at the all-time Celtics scoring record.  But there was a time when Pierce wasn't nearly giving 100% (for playoff teams, not just 30 win lottery teams) and would've gleefully accepted the next plane ticket out of Boston

[slamdunk]

Love Pierce, but I wouldn't want to him to stick around for 2 years of rebuilding, not for my sake, but for his sake.

If I saw him traded to a contender, I'd feel similar to how Ray Bourque fans probably felt when he was traded to Colorado.  I know it's different because Pierce already has a ring, but I don't want Pierce to have to waste the tail end of his career on a crappy team when he could be playing meaningful basketball.

There's no reason for him to go anywhere. He's won a title. He's rich. Why uproot himself and his family just to chase a second ring? He could stay in Boston and be the bridge to the next title teams.

[PosImpos]

Love Pierce, but I wouldn't want to him to stick around for 2 years of rebuilding, not for my sake, but for his sake.

If I saw him traded to a contender, I'd feel similar to how Ray Bourque fans probably felt when he was traded to Colorado.  I know it's different because Pierce already has a ring, but I don't want Pierce to have to waste the tail end of his career on a crappy team when he could be playing meaningful basketball.

There's no reason for him to go anywhere. He's won a title. He's rich. Why uproot himself and his family just to chase a second ring? He could stay in Boston and be the bridge to the next title teams.

"Be the bridge to the next title teams" meaning what?

Take up playing time that could go to developing a younger player, eat up $15 million in cap space, stand in the way of a true transition to Rondo being the unquestioned leader of the team . . . .

[CelticsFanNC]

  If Paul Pierce were given the choice between finishing his career on a legitimate title contender or finishing it on(hypothetically speaking) a rebuilding Celtics team he would choose to be traded IMO.  He's been down that road before and I believe if he were perfectly honest he would say he doesn't want to finish his career going down it again.

  He's never going to admit that publicly because he respects the Celtic's  organization, it's history, his place in it and it's fan base.  He respects his legacy in Boston.  

  He's a great competitor.   He'd jump at a shot at another title either in Boston or elsewhere because he knows the clock is ticking on his career.

  

[bruinsandceltics]

Trade them both. Blow it up. Get the lotto pick and go get a star young player.

[gpap]

I think the one Pierce trade that would make the most sense is something like this

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7e83dpm

The main component is Pierce going to Portland for Gerald Wallace. Wallace is about to become a free agent which would only give the Celtics MORE cap space this summer to land both Deron and Dwight.

Also, I think Gerald Wallace would be a great replacement for Pierce to contend this season. I would actually see Portland possibly considering this as they may have the mentality of hoping they can get something for Wallace before free agency.

[LarBrd33]

Even though the thought of Pierce winning a title with the Lakers makes me puke
He was loyal to the Celtics, so I'll be loyal to him

There's been a new misconception about Pierce's loyalty to the Celtics that has evolved over a certain period of time.  I don't know why this happens, but there's a lot of stuff like this that happens.  The past just gets clouded over time when people start saying things.  I don't know how to put it.  Kinda like for example, when Russell retired and the immediate years after it - there was absolutely no doubt who was the better player (between him and Wilt.)  Russell was better and in 1980 was voted the greatest player of all time.  Then all of a sudden overtime, people's memories started getting meshy, and then there were analysts and fans that never saw those two play.  All of a sudden, people started going - "Russell played with stacks of HOFrs, of course Wilt was better!"

What I'm trying to get at is - I think we tend to forget certain things.  With the array of these new players seemingly forcing their way off of teams after 10 minutes in the league, we look favorable at Pierce.  And because Pierce remained on bad teams for a while, we give him this benefit of being loyal to the team.

Hate to say it, but while I appreciate Pierce for never coming out and publicly demanding trades like todays clowns do - this guy would have gladly accepted a change of scenery from the years 2004-2007.  One of the reason he was never dealt is because Danny thought he needed to have at least one star in place to build a team.  And all those Pierce rumors back then had us getting back the Corey Maggettes and Stromile Swifts of the world.  Do you not remember Pierce, who mailed in a 2004 playoff series against Indiana? Or when he disgraced himself with that ridiculous episode in Game 6 v Indiana the following year? That episode alone has always stained his legacy.  The casual Boston fans still has that in the back of their minds, and Pierce was reviled by especially the fan that looks at the NBA and the NBA players with a dirty eye.  That's why Pierce, despite bringing a long awaited championship back to Boston, and spending by far more time than any Boston sports star (or even semi-star) in this city than all of them, isn't even close to being one of the most beloved current athletes in this town.  After he re-upped in 2001, had a nice run in 2002 and did ok in 2003 - 2004-2007 was bad.  He was all but ready to demand a trade in 2007 after Garnett (and many other stars - Marion, Jermaine O'Neal) refused to play here.  He admitted as much  on a Dale-Holley interview back in 2008-2009ish.  It was even reported back late June by Adrian Woj here: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-pierce062507

Let's not overstate Pierce's loyalty to Boston.  This is getting out there because I feel Pierce wants to finish his career here and play on one team his whole career and make a run at the all-time Celtics scoring record.  But there was a time when Pierce wasn't nearly giving 100% (for playoff teams, not just 30 win lottery teams) and would've gleefully accepted the next plane ticket out of Boston

TP... I suffered through those years and was on board with a number of hypothetical Pierce trades (one involving Luol Deng and Ty Thomas use to excite me years ago when Thomas still seemingly had untapped potential).  Also it's known that Danny tried to trade Pierce to Portland for Van Exel's instantly expiring contract and the pick that would have been Chris Paul, but Pierce somehow blocked the trade from happening, because he refused to play on the Blazers. 

I love Pierce.  I've been watching him since his first game in Boston... but I'm not going to lose sleep if he finishes his career elsewhere in the same way I didn't lose sleep over watching Antoine (who I also loved) finish his career elsewhere.

[rondohondo]

I think the one Pierce trade that would make the most sense is something like this

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7e83dpm

The main component is Pierce going to Portland for Gerald Wallace. Wallace is about to become a free agent which would only give the Celtics MORE cap space this summer to land both Deron and Dwight.

Also, I think Gerald Wallace would be a great replacement for Pierce to contend this season. I would actually see Portland possibly considering this as they may have the mentality of hoping they can get something for Wallace before free agency.

I would want at least a draft pick back in addition to Wallace. I would  love to get both Batum and Wallace though. and maybe send back Bradley,Pietrus and PP?

[Chris]

I think the one Pierce trade that would make the most sense is something like this

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7e83dpm

The main component is Pierce going to Portland for Gerald Wallace. Wallace is about to become a free agent which would only give the Celtics MORE cap space this summer to land both Deron and Dwight.

Also, I think Gerald Wallace would be a great replacement for Pierce to contend this season. I would actually see Portland possibly considering this as they may have the mentality of hoping they can get something for Wallace before free agency.

I agree Pierce for Wallace makes some sense, but the problem is that they are not going to just throw in Camby.  They trade for Pierce to contend for a championship, and Camby is a key player for them.

A more likely deal would be something like Wallace and Babbitt or Williams (both of whom Danny was rumored to like).  And, it would be a glorified salary dump.