Ainge: Very Hard Decision on Pierce

[Evantime34]

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

I hope Wyc intervenes.

Are you assuming KG retires? Or are we trading him also?

[Roy H.]

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

I hope Wyc intervenes.

Are you assuming KG retires? Or are we trading him also?

If Danny pushes Pierce out the door, KG will follow, either by retiring or consenting to a trade.

[BballTim]

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

I hope Wyc intervenes.

Are you assuming KG retires? Or are we trading him also?

If Danny pushes Pierce out the door, KG will follow, either by retiring or consenting to a trade.

  Maybe, he didn't seem very concerned about Danny "pushing" Ray out the door.

[Roy H.]

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

I hope Wyc intervenes.

Are you assuming KG retires? Or are we trading him also?

If Danny pushes Pierce out the door, KG will follow, either by retiring or consenting to a trade.

  Maybe, he didn't seem very concerned about Danny "pushing" Ray out the door.

First, with Ray, Danny tried to bring him back.  With Pierce, if he doesn't come back, it will be because Danny cut him.  There's a huge distinction there.

Second, a team without Ray at least had a shot to contend.  I don't think that's true without Pierce.

There were rumors last season that KG would have consented to a deal if Pierce was traded.  I think the same is true this off-season.

[JSD]

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

It will be a difficult decision but I think what KG decides to do will make it easier. If KG retires, trade Pierce. If not, saddle up for one last run and add to this core.

I would even be FOR packaging young assets and contracts to add to this win now method if Pierce and KG stay.

[Moranis]

I could see a fairly large salary dump type trade happening with a team like Dallas that might want to clear some salary pre-draft.  Something like Pierce for Marion, Carter, Cunningham, and Crowder, wherein Dallas then buys Pierce out and Dallas saves a bunch of money and Boston picks up some young pieces and some veterans that will still keep them competitive next year.  Pierce would then be a free agent free to sign wherever he wanted and if he wanted to retire, could just wait the time period, sign the 1 day contract with Boston and retire or could go home to LA and sign with the Lakers or Clippers to make one last run in his home town.

[JSD]

I could see a fairly large salary dump type trade happening with a team like Dallas that might want to clear some salary pre-draft.  Something like Pierce for Marion, Carter, Cunningham, and Crowder, wherein Dallas then buys Pierce out and Dallas saves a bunch of money and Boston picks up some young pieces and some veterans that will still keep them competitive next year.  Pierce would then be a free agent free to sign wherever he wanted and if he wanted to retire, could just wait the time period, sign the 1 day contract with Boston and retire or could go home to LA and sign with the Lakers or Clippers to make one last run in his home town.

Sorry, I could not deal with Peirce in a Laker jersey.

[eugen]

Does not have sense to discuss the future of Pierce, He had te stay.

[JSD]

I still see Dallas as the perfect trading partner if they fail to bring anyone in through FA this offseason because they could practically absorb both Pierce and KG.

[Donoghus]

Just really never want to see Pierce in another team's jersey. 

If it hinders the rebuild, I'll deal with it. 

[eugen]

We have to scared after what Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.y thing made DA with Ray Allen. DA is incompetent and ownership has to stop DA to make other big mistakes or let Doc to manage the roster.

[gpap]

I am pretty conflicted about Paul staying in Boston.

On one hand, I want Paul to say because I think as long as Paul is a Celtic, then we will try to be competitive because Pierce does not want to be part of a losing team.

Then, Danny will likely try to pick up a couple veteran pieces OR may even try to pull the trigger on a big trade for someone like Gasol, Monta Ellis or even Kevin Love.

The flip side to the coin is if including Pierce himself in a package can net us a decent return like a Josh Smith, I'd be very tempted.

Tough decision to make. Personally, I would deal Rondo to the Lakers for Gasol and keep Paul. I think adding Gasol to KG, Pierce, Green, Bradley would be a pretty decent team.

[gpap]

I still see Dallas as the perfect trading partner if they fail to bring anyone in through FA this offseason because they could practically absorb both Pierce and KG.

Yeah, good point. I also think Paul and KG might welcome the idea of going to Dallas to play alongside Dirk.

Dallas will certainly have alot of cap space and if they whiff on Howard and Paul (which they will cause I think both stay in LA) then I think Cuban could definitely be tempted by KG/Pierce.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

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

I hope Wyc intervenes.

Are you assuming KG retires? Or are we trading him also?

If Danny pushes Pierce out the door, KG will follow, either by retiring or consenting to a trade.

  Maybe, he didn't seem very concerned about Danny "pushing" Ray out the door.

Seemed to me like he and PP were concerned enough, they asked Danny not to do the Mayo trade for Ray.

[BballTim]

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

I hope Wyc intervenes.

Are you assuming KG retires? Or are we trading him also?

If Danny pushes Pierce out the door, KG will follow, either by retiring or consenting to a trade.

  Maybe, he didn't seem very concerned about Danny "pushing" Ray out the door.

Seemed to me like he and PP were concerned enough, they asked Danny not to do the Mayo trade for Ray.

  But not so concerned that he retired or signed with another team because Ray left. I don't think it was a huge factor in his decision-making last summer.