Idea: Sensible Pierce-to-Contender Trade

[PosImpos]

Boston sends:

Paul Pierce
Mickael Pietrus
Chris Wilcox

San Antonio sends:

Richard Jefferson
Kawhi Leonard
Tiago Splitter


Celtics get two valuable rebuilding pieces who are good now and provide things we desperately need -- quickness, athleticism, rebounding, length, inside finishing.  Richard Jefferson is also a decent, though very overpaid, role player.  Pierce gets to finish his career on a contender.

Spurs cash in some of their young assets and get an All-Star wing to supplement their Big 3 who can help them make a real playoff push this season (and next).  They also get two reasonably veteran role players.  On top of that, they get out of Jefferson's contract without having to use the amnesty.

[Q_FBE]

It looks like a one way ticket to the cellar. Once you trade Pierce, you lose the team conscience and Truth. I suppose you are interested in Tiago Splitter's skills. Richard Jefferson is the placeholder veteran star until somebody better comes along and he leaves. And what is Kawhi Leonards upside? Kedrick Brown???

[PosImpos]

It looks like a one way ticket to the cellar. Once you trade Pierce, you lose the team conscience and Truth. I suppose you are interested in Tiago Splitter's skills. Richard Jefferson is the placeholder veteran star until somebody better comes along and he leaves. And what is Kawhi Leonards upside? Kedrick Brown???

Well, the point of this trade is that we're headed to the cellar anyway.  Might as well get some assets.  Pierce deserves to finish his career on a contender. 

Splitter is a valuable player.  Jefferson makes salaries work -- but he's not an awful player.  Kawhi Leonard's upside is probably a poor man's Gerald Wallace / Shawn Marion.

[bfrombleacher]

I'd be happy for Pierce. San Antonio has great management and players are respected there. Can we possibly get a pick out of this though?

Maybe if we worked a 3rd team in we could get someone to replace Peaches and get a building piece moving ahead. While without Pierce we're even further from contention, who knows. Maybe Tiago Splitter is the domino that sets it all off.

[PosImpos]

I'd be happy for Pierce. San Antonio has great management and players are respected there. Can we possibly get a pick out of this though?

Maybe if we worked a 3rd team in we could get someone to replace Peaches and get a building piece moving ahead. While without Pierce we're even further from contention, who knows. Maybe Tiago Splitter is the domino that sets it all off.

I think Splitter and Leonard both count as valuable building pieces -- though by no means cornerstones.  I think it's unreasonable to expect to get a cornerstone in any trade involving one of the Big 3.  Only Rondo has the value to (maybe) bring back a foundational player.

[snively]

An interesting idea.  Jefferson's contract is pretty obnoxious, but Splitter and Leonard are interesting players.

I think I'd prefer something like Pierce to Houston for assorted expiring young players if we're looking to move him.  Jefferson's contract is just too much of a negative value at this point: two more years @ $10 mil for a spot-up shooter?

[Who]

I think it's unreasonable to expect to get a cornerstone in any trade involving one of the Big 3.  Only Rondo has the value to (maybe) bring back a foundational player.

I think Pierce can net Boston a low level star.

Someone along the lines of a Gerald Wallace or Josh Smith type.

[PosImpos]

An interesting idea.  Jefferson's contract is pretty obnoxious, but Splitter and Leonard are interesting players.

I think I'd prefer something like Pierce to Houston for assorted expiring young players if we're looking to move him.  Jefferson's contract is just too much of a negative value at this point: two more years @ $10 mil for a spot-up shooter?

I think you have to look at it in terms of the fact that Jefferson makes $5 million a year less than Pierce for the next two years.  Getting two valuable rebuilding assets in Leonard and Splitter is definitely worth it, in my opinion.

Even if Houston is interested in acquiring Pierce for expiring young players (I'm not convinced), I don't think the deal would have the same value.  Houston isn't going to offer any players as valuable as Leonard or Splitter. 

Plus, I think from ownership's perspective you need to be able to sell to fans (and to Pierce himself) that you're trading Pierce to a contender.  In other words, trading a beloved franchise player like Pierce has to be framed as if it's for the best for both sides, not just "business."  The Spurs are a contender, especially with Paul on board.  The Rockets aren't.

The cap hit from Jefferson doesn't bother me that much because I view it as money we're going to be forced to spend, anyway.  I doubt the Celtics are going to be players for any major free agents this summer or next.

[PosImpos]

I think it's unreasonable to expect to get a cornerstone in any trade involving one of the Big 3.  Only Rondo has the value to (maybe) bring back a foundational player.

I think Pierce can net Boston a low level star.

Someone along the lines of a Gerald Wallace or Josh Smith type.

Gerald Wallace is too old to make sense in a rebuilding trade.  I doubt Portland is in enough of a win-now mode to find that worthwhile, either.  Plus, Pierce doesn't really fit with their new running style, while Wallace does (and he fits their window with LMA better).

Josh Smith would be a nice get; I'm just not confident that would be on the table.

[indeedproceed]

An interesting idea.  Jefferson's contract is pretty obnoxious, but Splitter and Leonard are interesting players.

I think I'd prefer something like Pierce to Houston for assorted expiring young players if we're looking to move him.  Jefferson's contract is just too much of a negative value at this point: two more years @ $10 mil for a spot-up shooter?

I think you have to look at it in terms of the fact that Jefferson makes $5 million a year less than Pierce for the next two years.  Getting two valuable rebuilding assets in Leonard and Splitter is definitely worth it, in my opinion.

Even if Houston is interested in acquiring Pierce for expiring young players (I'm not convinced), I don't think the deal would have the same value.  Houston isn't going to offer any players as valuable as Leonard or Splitter.

The cap hit from Jefferson doesn't bother me that much because I view it as money we're going to be forced to spend, anyway.  I doubt the Celtics are going to be players for any major free agents this summer or next.

Houston's best young asset is what...Chandler Parsons? Chase Budinger? Goran Dragic?

I'd rather have Leonard/Splitter as well.

[Rondo2287]

If this is the best we can get I would rather pierce retire a lifelong celtic

[PosImpos]

If this is the best we can get I would rather pierce retire a lifelong celtic

I can respect that.  I'd honestly rather watch Pierce finish his career on a team full of great veterans with a chance at a championship.  It helps that the Spurs are one of my favorite non-Celtics teams.  Watching the Spurs in the playoffs with Parker, Manu, Pierce and Duncan -- not to mention Pietrus -- would be awesome.

I also don't think Pierce has a place on a rebuilding team, which is what the Celtics will be after this season.  If he can be traded for some players who will aid in the rebuilding effort, I say do it.

[snively]

An interesting idea.  Jefferson's contract is pretty obnoxious, but Splitter and Leonard are interesting players.

I think I'd prefer something like Pierce to Houston for assorted expiring young players if we're looking to move him.  Jefferson's contract is just too much of a negative value at this point: two more years @ $10 mil for a spot-up shooter?

I think you have to look at it in terms of the fact that Jefferson makes $5 million a year less than Pierce for the next two years.  Getting two valuable rebuilding assets in Leonard and Splitter is definitely worth it, in my opinion.

Even if Houston is interested in acquiring Pierce for expiring young players (I'm not convinced), I don't think the deal would have the same value.  Houston isn't going to offer any players as valuable as Leonard or Splitter.

The cap hit from Jefferson doesn't bother me that much because I view it as money we're going to be forced to spend, anyway.  I doubt the Celtics are going to be players for any major free agents this summer or next.

Houston's best young asset is what...Chandler Parsons? Chase Budinger? Goran Dragic?

I'd rather have Leonard/Splitter as well.

The advantage with dealing with Houston is that we wouldn't have to take on an albatross like Jefferson.

And Houston's got some interesting pieces.  Thabeet would be a nice prospect if we rebuild.  Marcus Morris might be interesting.

Certainly not ideal, but we would retain valuable cap flexibility.

[snively]

I think it's unreasonable to expect to get a cornerstone in any trade involving one of the Big 3.  Only Rondo has the value to (maybe) bring back a foundational player.

I think Pierce can net Boston a low level star.

Someone along the lines of a Gerald Wallace or Josh Smith type.

That would be my hope.  In the past, stars of Pierce's stature and age have yielded pretty good returns.  Dominique @ 34 brought back a twenty-something Danny Manning (at the time an All-Star).  Gary Payton @ 34 brought back a young Ray Allen.

But then there are the less auspicious deals like when Vince Carter @ 32 only fetched Alston, Battie and Courtney Lee. Jason Kidd @ 34 was a bit better, yielding Harris, Diop (both well regarded at the time) and a pair of first rounders.

[PosImpos]

I think it's unreasonable to expect to get a cornerstone in any trade involving one of the Big 3.  Only Rondo has the value to (maybe) bring back a foundational player.

I think Pierce can net Boston a low level star.

Someone along the lines of a Gerald Wallace or Josh Smith type.

That would be my hope.  In the past, stars of Pierce's stature and age have yielded pretty good returns.  Dominique @ 34 brought back a twenty-something Danny Manning (at the time an All-Star).  Gary Payton @ 34 brought back a young Ray Allen.

But then there are the less auspicious deals like when Vince Carter @ 32 only fetched Alston, Battie and Courtney Lee. Jason Kidd @ 34 was a bit better, yielding Harris, Diop (both well regarded at the time) and a pair of first rounders.

I guess I'm just not sure I see which other teams would have the motivation to give up players of that caliber for Pierce.

Atlanta would, maybe, if only because they are forced to be win-now because of Joe Johnson's contract and Josh Smith supposedly isn't fitting in so well down there.  Nevertheless, Pierce and J-Smith have similar on-court value at this point in their careers, and J-Smith is cheaper and should be good for at least another 5 years, while Pierce is probably a few years away from retiring.