Somehow, I don't think Boston will be Pierce's only team

[gotjoker?]

Preferably, I'll like to see him be among the star players in the NBA to begin and finish their career with one franchise.  However, I tend to believe that this is more wishful thinking than likely to occur in today's professional sports.  I mean I still can't believe that Michael Jordan played for Washington during his career, you only think of Chicago.

My skepticism is more to due with Ainge's unpredictability than Pierce or Rondo deciding to move on from here.

For me, Pierce is the main focus in this article.  Because one can argue that San Antonio never deserved to select Tim Duncan first overall to begin with.  Not to mention, he could've signed with Orlando as a free agent some years ago.  Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki were actually selected by the Charlotte Hornets and the Milwaukee Bucks, respectively.  And Bryant could've easily been traded to another team in recent years.  Dwyane Wade? Remember when the talk was whether or not Miami could trade him if the Heat were eliminated by Boston in the playoffs this season.  But, let's not get into semantics.  Still, I think Pierce and Nowitzki genuinely don't want to leave, nor does the franchise's ownership desire for them to go.

Paul Pierce: The Celtics have flirted with moving Pierce, most famously toward the end of the 2006-07 season and reportedly last year before the trade deadline. Pierce has two years left on his deal, but only $5 million of his $15.3 million salary in 2013-14 will be guaranteed by the time the 2013 offseason rolls around. That cuts both ways: On the one hand, the Celtics have spent so much on salary over the next three seasons that slicing Pierce’s deal away early wouldn’t provide meaningful cap room in next summer’s free-agent market. And they’ve already spent enough on 2014-15 salary that they might be right up against the cap in the summer of 2014 even before considering any future deal for Pierce, or his cap hold.

In other words: Why not just keep the guy?

On the other hand, the nonguaranteed portion of Pierce’s deal would make him a more appealing trade target if Boston underperforms and decides to enter into an honest rebuild by flipping as many assets as possible.

Pierce will turn 35 in October, so he’ll be at a natural retirement age by the end of his current deal.

Rajon Rondo: Playing under one of the league’s best contracts (average of $12 million per year), which expires after the 2014-15 season, at which point Rondo will still be in his prime. What will the Celtics look like then?

http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2012/08/27/dirk-nowitzki-nba-one-team/

[indeedproceed]

I think it goes one of two ways, and no other:

1) The Cs do well, Garnett feels good after this year, and decides to try another

2) The Cs don't do well or Garnett decides to retire. Either one will likely mark Pierce's departure, either through retirement (unlikely) or trade (more likely).

No matter how you cut the pie, it hinges on the Cs doing well and KG sticking of his deal through Pierce's

[YallahCeltics34]

If he does go to another team I hope he:

1. Doesn't go to the Lakers. That would forever turn my opinion of him around. Pierce is my favorite player and him joining the Lakers just to see how it feels to play for your favorite team as a kid would be disgusting. Or the Heat for that matter.

2. Gets traded getting us pieces to build on for the future.

[indeedproceed]

Pierce's jersey is a lock in the rafters though, no question.

[Celtics18]

Paul Pierce should retire a Celtic.  I see no reason not to pay him for the full length of his contract which is two more seasons.  At that point, it will probably be in Paul's best interest to retire gracefully as a all-time Celtic great.   

[gotjoker?]

A few things to keep in mind is, Pierce has already stated that he won't sign an extension, and is open to possibly playing overseas when his NBA career is done.

I still find it strange that you sign Garnett to three years knowing that you can potentially move Pierce after next season.  I almost think that Ainge feels apprehensive toward handing over the reigns of the team to Rondo.  Hence, the security blanket of Garnett in place for the duration of his [Rondo] current contract.

[ederson]

A few things to keep in mind is, Pierce has already stated that he won't sign an extension, and is open to possibly playing overseas when his NBA career is done.

I seriously doubt he`ll play to another league. Not only Pearce but any other top tier player. The money ain`t that good in Europe nowadays

[fitzhickey]

If he played for lakers I'd cry 

[the_Bird]

A few things to keep in mind is, Pierce has already stated that he won't sign an extension, and is open to possibly playing overseas when his NBA career is done.

I seriously doubt he`ll play to another league. Not only Pearce but any other top tier player. The money ain`t that good in Europe nowadays

I wouldn't be about the money, I don't think.  It would be for the experience of playing in Italy or Greece or in some other gorgeous European setting.  That's the impression I've gotten when Pierce has talked about playing in Europe, that it was as much a lifestyle choice as anything else.  I mean, being able to live on the Mediterranean coast and make a living playing ball?  What could be better, really?  More power to him; I'd much rather hear about him loving life as an Italian star than wasting on the bench in LA or Miami. 

Pierce really seems like a guy who'd appreciate that kind of experience, and that would allow him to exit the Celtics gracefully while still playing ball.

[ederson]

I mean, being able to live on the Mediterranean coast and make a living playing ball?  What could be better, really?

Well it would be better to live on the Med coast and travel around and play pick up games

I guess he just wants to stat active even when he won`t be able to compete in the NBA. But i`m pretty sure he `ll change his mind. After almost 20 hard NBA seasons rest and leisure are too hard to deny 

And i also think this will damage (a little) his legacy. European leagues are not NBA but they are not a walk in the park either. Although they are all different situations Iverson has failed miserably, Childress was average (and that`s a kind assesment) .. Even Dominique Wilkins had a poor season.

[the_Bird]

...   does anybody (in the US) think about Dominique's lack of success in Euroball when they remember his play?

AI's a better example; his legacy is tarnished now, but it's 100% due to the end of his NBA career and 0% due to anything that happened overseas.

Pierce could score 5 points a game playing in Italy, and it wouldn't diminish my memories of his play in Boston one iota.  If I'm watching him rot on the bench in Miami, it might.

[mctyson]

The Jordan comparison is a poor one.  We also forget the Jordan "retired" for 2 years, in the middle of what most would argue is the greatest career in basketball history.  Jordan should not have walked away from the Bulls then, he definitely should not have walked away in 98, and I bet he regrets those decisions.

Jordan had many other issues that drove his decision making.

Pierce, as far as I can tell, could only have one issue with the Celtics that would move him to another team:  the trade talks.  That's it.  We don't know how serious any of those offers were last year. Just because it was reported that a deal was made, does not mean that Danny or Wyc seriously entertained the thought.

Pierce and KG are riding this one out.  2 years.  The 3rd year on KG's deal is there just in case, if after those 2 years, the Celtics are still really good and they feel well and want to play more. 

[SHAQATTACK]

Pierce is cemented as a Celtics star and one of the best small forwards ever .  AS long as the Celtics put a contender on the floor like they have this year , I don't see him leaving.  I don't see Danny trading him away either. I think his career will be left to his own demise. Which I hope will just be retirement. So many stars in sports make fool out of themselves late in their careers.

[Sizzlack]

Pierce needs to retire a Celtic, anything else would be a travesty. I don't care what it takes to make it happen. The guy might have been born in LA, but he's one of ours now. He's as much as part of Boston as any native born here.

[guava_wrench]

Hardly something to get worked up about. He is an adult who can make his own decisions and the franchise is a business that needs to act wisely. If he want to play until 40, that is his prerogative. There is no reason why the team should need to sacrifice for his whims any more that he should sacrifice his whims for the franchise.

If he want to play beyond when he is worth paying, I wish him the best wherever that happens.

It is probably close to impossible for us to relate to guys who are retiring in their mid 30s and who can never go back to what dominated the past 30 years of their lives. It can lead some to stay well past their decline.