Ainge: Very Hard Decision on Pierce

[Evantime34]

I don't think the decision is about waiving him, its about trading him for something as he's both a good player and on a waivable contract.

Just waiving him for some salary relief isn't going to get us enough room to do much.

What do you think would be fair value for Pierce's expiring next year?

I think KG's situation will determine what happens with Pierce. Does KG retire? If not do we look to move him and Pierce to start over?

He's a very attractive expiring contract in a larger talent/salary dump or trade. That's the value as a contract. Not huge but you see really good assets (Clippers pick), (Chandler, etc) moved for such things.

As a player he's probably worth a mid to low first round pick plus whatever salary comes back. Not a great return from him there.

If KG retires all bets are off though. Then Danny could really go slash and burn mode I guess.

Pierce's contract plus Bradley, and Sully for Kevin Love?

I think if KG comes back they will give it go one more year and hope to get another year where veterans mentor young players.

[Fafnir]

Minnesota isn't trading Love, the new GM is going to try and sell him on the team and make the playoffs with him.

[Evantime34]

Minnesota isn't trading Love, the new GM is going to try and sell him on the team and make the playoffs with him.

:-(

What about if Dwight indicates he wants to play in ATL with Josh Smith? The Hawks could then trade us Horford.

I could also see Houston, Dallas, or maybe Detroit as teams who could look to shed salary.

[Tr1boy]

1st SITUATION

1. No key FA targets for 2013.
2. KG after all he has said already, will go crazy at home and declare to be back another year
3. Good chance i see then Pierce's option picked up.

With sully, rondo back plus i hope barbosa comesback i feel optimistic this team can be a top contending team. Need to get rid of/don't resign Lee, Crawford, Randolph, White, Wilcox

Make a solid 16th pick (even if they have to be stashed away for a year) and pickup two solid FA's. Worse case next year, you can always trade Pierce by trade deadline and try to obtain at least a 2014 1st

2nd SITUATION

1. Celtics lose to the knicks
2. KG officially retires
3. Pierce no longer wants to stay nor for the celts its an attractive option to keep him
4. Rebuilding starts. Focus on a good summer


I have no doubt also, when PP and KG leave, Doc will also follow.

[get_banners]

Minnesota isn't trading Love, the new GM is going to try and sell him on the team and make the playoffs with him.

this may not be as true as it once was. there is speculation that the wolves are going to build around 2 of the 3 of rubio, love, and pekovic, but that all 3 are going to want max deals and that love might be the odd man out. personally, love's the only one of those 3 that deserves a max deal, but the wolves aren't always the smartest team.

[get_banners]

CBA question. if we trade pierce on draft night to ANYBODY as a salary dump to them (they then have him and can drop his option, so basically get $13m or so free space on their cap), are we restricted from getting him back later in the season? i know the waiving/buy-out thing makes that illegal, but are things different here b/c there is a team option for the contract?

[Fafnir]

Minnesota isn't trading Love, the new GM is going to try and sell him on the team and make the playoffs with him.

this may not be as true as it once was. there is speculation that the wolves are going to build around 2 of the 3 of rubio, love, and pekovic, but that all 3 are going to want max deals and that love might be the odd man out. personally, love's the only one of those 3 that deserves a max deal, but the wolves aren't always the smartest team.

No reason to make that decision this off season though. Rubio is still on his rookie deal, any trade for Love/Pek/Rubio will happen once all three are ready to hit big dollars. This is assuming they match whatever offers Pek gets. (I think they will)

[anthony83]

Pierce is a legend, and has to retire in Boston, I find it regrettable comments year after year and deadline after deadline.

Paul Pierce, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kobe Lakers will retire.

[LooseCannon]

CBA question. if we trade pierce on draft night to ANYBODY as a salary dump to them (they then have him and can drop his option, so basically get $13m or so free space on their cap), are we restricted from getting him back later in the season? i know the waiving/buy-out thing makes that illegal, but are things different here b/c there is a team option for the contract?

If a player has a team option for next season, then the player cannot be traded unless the option is exercised before the trade and the player is firmly under contract for next season.

[KGs Knee]

CBA question. if we trade pierce on draft night to ANYBODY as a salary dump to them (they then have him and can drop his option, so basically get $13m or so free space on their cap), are we restricted from getting him back later in the season? i know the waiving/buy-out thing makes that illegal, but are things different here b/c there is a team option for the contract?

If a player has a team option for next season, then the player cannot be traded unless the option is exercised before the trade and the player is firmly under contract for next season.

That rule doesn't apply to Pierce.  His contract is not a team option, it is partially guaranteed.

I realize it seems like splitting hairs, but, there is a tangible difference.

[manl_lui]

We know that Game 6 (and hopefully beyond this series)may be the last for PP as a Celtics 

Ainge says:

"What's important to understand, yeah, it's going to be hard for fans and everybody else, but as far as what's doing what's best for the Celtics, it's probably going to be very hard, too," Ainge

"I have not even discussed that with anyone within our franchise yet," Ainge said. "So that's something for like a few weeks from now to contemplate."

Let's enjoy these games and savor them because this summer the team can very well be completely different.

http://www.csnne.com/blog/celtics-talk/ainge-cs-face-very-hard-decision-pierce

I love Danny Ainge and what he is trying to do to help the Celtics organization. I also love Pierce...I hope Pierce returns and retires in green and Danny continues to do what he is doing that can both help improve our roster and keep Pierce in green

[LooseCannon]

Whether the last year is a team option or not, it makes no difference with respect to the rule about re-signing a player who is traded then waived.

[KGs Knee]

Whether the last year is a team option or not, it makes no difference with respect to the rule about re-signing a player who is traded then waived.

Ok, I mis-interpreted what was being said.

I thought you were trying to imply that if we traded Pierce he then couldn't be waived for the smaller contract amount (meaning he had to be guaranteed his full $15m 1st).

I now see what you were trying to say, is that we could not re-acquire him after being waived.  And yes, it is true that he could not be re-acquired under either scenario.

[Tr1boy]

sign and trade before the season starts won't happen.

It makes no sense for opposing teams to get into it.

Its better to wait until he gets bought out and then you try to sign him. Why waste assets??

[Roy H.]

Unless we make the conference finals, I think he's gone.  That will suck.

I hope Wyc intervenes.