Pierce says he would sign a 1 day contract to retire a Celtic if released

[Quetzalcoatl]

If one of your closest colleagues was Antoine Walker, you would be trying to stay in the league as long as possible too

[Evantime34]

To me it sounds like he wants to come back next year but he isn't sure the Celtics feel the same way.

If he is to retire the best thing for the Celtics would be to trade him before he files his retirement papers. If we trade him after his guaranteed money kicks in wouldn't his deal be completely unguaranteed for next year?

I really hope they win tonight. Pierce and KG deserve a send off that the home Boston crowd could give them.

[PaulPierce34G]

Going to be a sad day when he officially calls it a career.  I've been an avid fan of the Celtics and basketball in general ever since his rookie year in 98-99.  I saw Bird's retirement a few years earlier, but being very young, I didn't really understand or feel anything towards it.  He is truly the first player that I took legitimate fanfare towards that is going to be out of the league, in a playing capacity, in the next few years.  I hope they keep him and just let him play it out. 

I guess it's starting to hit me, in a sense, that he's almost done with his career.  Time flies, that's for sure.

[Lucky17]

To me it sounds like he wants to come back next year but he isn't sure the Celtics feel the same way.

If he is to retire the best thing for the Celtics would be to trade him before he files his retirement papers. If we trade him after his guaranteed money kicks in wouldn't his deal be completely unguaranteed for next year?

I really hope they win tonight. Pierce and KG deserve a send off that the home Boston crowd could give them.

Pierce wants to play at least one more year, so I don't think he's contemplating retirement. I think he knows that if KG retires, the Celtics will enter a rebuilding process, and the nature of Pierce's contract makes him a candidate for trade or release.

Pierce's contract for next year isn't guaranteed until after June 30, 2013. So, he could be traded on draft night to a team looking to trim a bunch of payroll, and then released (and only count for $5 mil against the new team's cap).

BTW, Evan, I was totally wrong on that other issue re: KG's retirement. If he files official retirement papers with the league, his contract does come off the books.

[Lucky17]

Also, in case anyone is wondering: the Celtics can use amnesty on Pierce, but only after that June 30 trigger date that fully guarantees his contract.

The amnesty provision can only be used during the first week after the July moratorium on free agency has passed. For this coming offseason, the moratorium runs from July 1-9, so the earliest Pierce could be amnestied is July 10.

Pierce would be paid the full $15.33 million of his final year, but none of it would count against the Celtics cap.

[Evantime34]

To me it sounds like he wants to come back next year but he isn't sure the Celtics feel the same way.

If he is to retire the best thing for the Celtics would be to trade him before he files his retirement papers. If we trade him after his guaranteed money kicks in wouldn't his deal be completely unguaranteed for next year?

I really hope they win tonight. Pierce and KG deserve a send off that the home Boston crowd could give them.

Pierce wants to play at least one more year, so I don't think he's contemplating retirement. I think he knows that if KG retires, the Celtics will enter a rebuilding process, and the nature of Pierce's contract makes him a candidate for trade or release.

Pierce's contract for next year isn't guaranteed until after June 30, 2013. So, he could be traded on draft night to a team looking to trim a bunch of payroll, and then released (and only count for $5 mil against the new team's cap).

BTW, Evan, I was totally wrong on that other issue re: KG's retirement. If he files official retirement papers with the league, his contract does come off the books.

It takes a big man to admit he's wrong. I end up doing it all the time, so I must be the manliest of men haha.

I always thought Pierce and KG would both be traded, before they retire to a team that needed cap space, because just letting them expire leaves us with little cap room to replace them. If they could secure 2014 picks for them I could live with taking on a bad contract or two.

The problem is since the new CBA and the amnesty rules there are less outrageous contracts that teams would give up a pick to move. If anyone has some ideas on teams that are looking to shed salary and who they would want to get rid of I'd love to see it. I've looked over rosters recently with this in mind and have come up empty.

[Lucky17]

Maybe teams that are already projected to be a little under the cap heading into the 2013-14 season? If trading for Pierce's non-guaranteed contract could allow such a team to clear enough cap space for a max-level free agent signing, that team could be a potential trade partner.

The tricky part of such a trade would be finding enough salary to send back to Boston to match Pierce's contract. I'm sure that Ainge won't be interested in taking back any large contract that has more than one more year remaining. Could make things difficult.

But, even if the Celtics use amnesty on Pierce, the resultant cap space--even if it's not large enough to make an impact FA signing--could be used to acquire assets from teams willing to give up draft picks or prospects in order to shed payroll commitments. That can help accelerate the rebuild.

For example, would Golden State trade a 2014 draft pick to shed Richard Jefferson's $11 million contract off its books next season?

[ScoobyDoo]

If KG retires, I could see Pierce being traded elsewhere to play for a year or two. I don't think he's done by any means. I just don't think he can carry a team like he used to every night.

He would be a great addition to any team that is a current contender.

I could also see us keeping him if KG retires, that is possible, but I just don't see how it would work for either party. We'd be rebuilding and would ideally need cap space. Meanwhile, Pierce would most likely want to be in a space where he can compete in the playoffs for another year or two.

If KG comes back for one more year, I'd say we keep them both, bring Rondo and Sully back healthy and add one more legit seven footer with our mid level.

I still think that team, healthy, could seriously compete for a ring next year. 

KG and Pierce then retire together. 

 

[Lucky17]

I don't know how they might get involved, but I believe Orlando may be the only team that has a trade exception large enough to absorb Pierce's contract outright (thanks to the Dwight Howard trade).

That TE expires in August 2013, if not sooner (I think if Orlando starts the offseason in July 2013 with more than $18 mil in cap space, then the TE evaporates).

[GreenFaith1819]

I hope it never gets to the point of PP having to do this.

Just let him (and KG) retire as C's...no trades, no rumors, just let them retire normally.

There is TOO much tradition with this team to let these two future HOFers get traded for scraps or whatever....I hope they just let these two ride off into the sunset next year.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I would like to hug every one of you guys, this has got to be the first thread I have seen where not one person replied to a troll. I mean, it's beautiful! Grats on the restraint!

[droopdog7]

I think peeps are misnderstanding this statement.  He doesn't say he is ready to retire.  Simply, that regardless of what happens, he wants to retire a Celtic.  However long in the future that might be.

[dark_lord]

I hope it never gets to the point of PP having to do this.

Just let him (and KG) retire as C's...no trades, no rumors, just let them retire normally.

There is TOO much tradition with this team to let these two future HOFers get traded for scraps or whatever....I hope they just let these two ride off into the sunset next year.

this is exactly how i feel with regards to pierce.  i would like kg to be able to do the same, but if he were to leave, it wouldn't bother me too much.  i appreciate everything kg has done and think he has been a true celtic, but he doesnt have the longevity of pierce.

i have said for yrs on this blog.....pierce finishing his career and retiring a celtic would mean just as much to me as a title.

[j804]

I hope it never gets to the point of PP having to do this.

Just let him (and KG) retire as C's...no trades, no rumors, just let them retire normally.

There is TOO much tradition with this team to let these two future HOFers get traded for scraps or whatever....I hope they just let these two ride off into the sunset next year.

this is exactly how i feel with regards to pierce.  i would like kg to be able to do the same, but if he were to leave, it wouldn't bother me too much.  i appreciate everything kg has done and think he has been a true celtic, but he doesnt have the longevity of pierce.

i have said for yrs on this blog.....pierce finishing his career and retiring a celtic would mean just as much to me as a title.

I agree nothing is a given in sports and it is a business but he almost earned that right let the man retire a Celtic if he wants to, would be disgusted if he was traded.

[More Banners]

Pierce, like Max, will be a former Celtic Finals MVP who is later traded, eventually to have number retired.

Unless we get an impact 7-footer for Lee, Bradley, Terry, and/or #16, and possibly Bass, we don't need to have Pierce around for $14.5 million next year.  No need.

I agree that Pierce seems like a ring chaser.  He was willing to push for a trade earlier in his career when we sucked.  I don't think he wants to work hard at losing, or fighting double teams as the best player on a mediocre team.  He doesn't want to go out like Reggie Miller.

Perhaps he goes to Dallas with Terry.  Or for a pick, with RJefferson to balance money.  Or with Bradleyand a pick to Orlando for their pick.  Whatever, but he won't be here.