How much would you pay for a player with 2012/13 avgs: 18.6pts, 6.3rebs, 4.8ast

[quidinqui33]

...and gets your three triple doubles.

I am completely mind boggled by the fact that any Celtic fan would think that anything other than bringing Pierce back next season is good for the team.  And this does not even take the sentimental reasons into account.

A young player averaging those types of numbers would command max dollars, and people are hesitant to give Paul "The MF Truth" Pierce 15 mill for one more season.  Are you kidding me!?!

Sure, he was gassed in the playoffs and had a ton of turnovers from handling the ball too much with Rondo out, but are you telling me there are better options out there for our money next year than what Pierce brings to the table? 

Ping pong balls? Been there, it's a long shot.  Bringing in multiple 2nd tier free agents with the money we would save.  We already saw how that worked out replacing ray (a hall of famer) with lee and terry?

You just can't replace the numbers I listed above, the leadership, the big shots, and the history that Pierce brings to the table.

Sure explore trades, but I don't think anything will come of it.

Pay the man. Play him less. Let him be a leader. Enjoy his last season.  See a fresh Pierce in the playoffs.  Let him retire a Celtic.  Send 34 to the rafters.

Worth every bit of that 15 million and then some.

[CelticConcourse]

This man is right.

[BleedGreen1989]

I have absolutely no problem with bringing Pierce and KG back...I also have no problem with moving on from both. Tough to make a decision when we don't know the current options.

That being said, I'd much rather root for PP and KG until the wheels fall completely off then root for a lotto team and hope we get lucky.

[GreenFaith1819]

...and gets your three triple doubles.

I am completely mind boggled by the fact that any Celtic fan would think that anything other than bringing Pierce back next season is good for the team.  And this does not even take the sentimental reasons into account.

A young player averaging those types of numbers would command max dollars, and people are hesitant to give Paul "The MF Truth" Pierce 15 mill for one more season.  Are you kidding me!?!

Sure, he was gassed in the playoffs and had a ton of turnovers from handling the ball too much with Rondo out, but are you telling me there are better options out there for our money next year than what Pierce brings to the table? 

Ping pong balls? Been there, it's a long shot.  Bringing in multiple 2nd tier free agents with the money we would save.  We already saw how that worked out replacing ray (a hall of famer) with lee and terry?

You just can't replace the numbers I listed above, the leadership, the big shots, and the history that Pierce brings to the table.

Sure explore trades, but I don't think anything will come of it.

Pay the man. Play him less. Let him be a leader. Enjoy his last season.  See a fresh Pierce in the playoffs.  Let him retire a Celtic.  Send 34 to the rafters.

Worth every bit of that 15 million and then some.

TP.

[bobbyv]

I'm on the "run it back" boat. If we're not ready to commit to the free agents available, theres no point in not bringing him back.

[chambers]

He's definitely not worth 15 million. Unfortunately he's just a little too past his prime to be the number one option on a contender.
15 million is Lebron James, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose money. Maybe back in 2007-2010 but this post season has just shown we are going no where with him as our number one option and taking up 15 million of our 50 million in capspace.

You can pay him 15 million and bring him back to bow out of the first or second round again or we can wipe the slate clean.

The whole argument about Pierce is that he's paid so much, and he's still a great player, but he's just not good enough to lead us to a championship, playing 15 million kind of minutes. People need to realize how poor he's become on the defensive end in the last 2 years. We even resorted to putting our power forward on the rival SF's that are in the same pay bracket as our SF! There's a reason why Danny put a 5 million buyout on the tail end of Pierces deal, so we could move him on if he hit the veteran decline. Rondo going down was just too much of a burden for Pierce to handle at his age.

Id personally just move him on so we can either afford another player with more impact for the same money, or a can lose as many games as possible to better our lottery placement.
Keeping Pierce means we are a mediocre team, and being mediocre just means a repeat of this year or perhaps a 2nd round exit. I love him him but the longer we keep Pierce, the further away we are banner 18.

[Celtics18]

TP, quid.  Very well put. 

[celticsleyte]

I go back and forth on bringing back Pierce.  We do not have a realistic chance to win a title next year. If Pierce is willing to come off the bench in a Hondo type role it could work out.  I do not want Jeff Green's development hampered in any way going forward.  Green needs big minutes at the three spot.

I am surprised our aging superstars have held up so well but it surely is coming to an end.  Father time is undefeated.

It is important we do not bring in more mediocre guys on multi year deals to try and contend.  I hope there is a team that can use JET. 

[BleedGreen1989]

He's definitely not worth 15 million. Unfortunately he's just a little too past his prime to be the number one option on a contender.
15 million is Lebron James, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose money. Maybe back in 2007-2010 but this post season has just shown we are going no where with him as our number one option and taking up 15 million of our 50 million in capspace.

You can pay him 15 million and bring him back to bow out of the first or second round again or we can wipe the slate clean.

The whole argument about Pierce is that he's paid so much, and he's still a great player, but he's just not good enough to lead us to a championship, playing 15 million kind of minutes.

Id personally just move him on so we can either afford another player with more impact for the same money, or a can lose as many games as possible to better our lottery placement.
Keeping Pierce means we are a mediocre team, and being mediocre just means a repeat of this year or perhaps a 2nd round exit. I love him him but the longer we keep Pierce, the further away we are banner 18.

Providing this team is healthy, I don't think it's a guaranteed out in the 2nd round. Outside Miami, who would the Celtics be heavy underdogs against in the east?

[wahz]

8-10 million.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

He's definitely not worth 15 million. Unfortunately he's just a little too past his prime to be the number one option on a contender.
15 million is Lebron James, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose money. Maybe back in 2007-2010 but this post season has just shown we are going no where with him as our number one option and taking up 15 million of our 50 million in capspace.

You can pay him 15 million and bring him back to bow out of the first or second round again or we can wipe the slate clean.

The whole argument about Pierce is that he's paid so much, and he's still a great player, but he's just not good enough to lead us to a championship, playing 15 million kind of minutes. People need to realize how poor he's become on the defensive end in the last 2 years. We even resorted to putting our power forward on the rival SF's that are in the same pay bracket as our SF! There's a reason why Danny put a 5 million buyout on the tail end of Pierces deal, so we could move him on if he hit the veteran decline. Rondo going down was just too much of a burden for Pierce to handle at his age.

Id personally just move him on so we can either afford another player with more impact for the same money, or a can lose as many games as possible to better our lottery placement.
Keeping Pierce means we are a mediocre team, and being mediocre just means a repeat of this year or perhaps a 2nd round exit. I love him him but the longer we keep Pierce, the further away we are banner 18.

Let's get real, 15 mil is no way enough for those player... Dwight is in line to make 22m a year (with LA) and around 16 w/o if he chooses to leave money on the table. Lebron makes that amount because he chose to so Bosh and Wade could be signed... if you think LeBron is only worth 15m then I don't know what to tell you.

[CelticConcourse]

Kobe Bryant   Los Angeles Lakers   $27,849,149
Dirk Nowitzki   Dallas Mavericks   $20,907,128
Carmelo Anthony   New York Knicks   $20,463,024
Amar'e Stoudemire   New York Knicks   $19,948,799
Joe Johnson   Brooklyn Nets   $19,752,645
Dwight Howard   Los Angeles Lakers   $19,536,360
Pau Gasol   Los Angeles Lakers   $19,000,000
Chris Paul   Los Angeles Clippers   $17,779,458
LeBron James   Miami Heat   $17,545,000
Chris Bosh   Miami Heat   $17,545,000
Dwyane Wade   Miami Heat   $17,182,000
Deron Williams   Brooklyn Nets   $17,177,795
Andrew Bynum   Philadelphia 76ers   $16,889,000
Paul Pierce   Boston Celtics   $16,790,345
Kevin Durant   Oklahoma City Thunder   $16,669,630
Zach Randolph   Memphis Grizzlies   $16,500,000
Rudy Gay   Toronto Raptors   $16,460,538
Derrick Rose   Chicago Bulls   $16,402,552
Al Jefferson   Utah Jazz   $15,000,000
Carlos Boozer   Chicago Bulls   $15,000,000
Andre Iguodala   Denver Nuggets   $14,968,250
Manu Ginobili   San Antonio Spurs   $14,107,492
Marc Gasol   Memphis Grizzlies   $13,891,359
Brook Lopez   Brooklyn Nets   $13,668,750
Kevin Love   Minnesota Timberwolves   $13,668,750
Roy Hibbert   Indiana Pacers   $13,668,750
Eric Gordon   New Orleans Pelicans   $13,668,750
Russell Westbrook   Oklahoma City Thunder   $13,668,750
Tyson Chandler   New York Knicks   $13,604,188
LaMarcus Aldridge   Portland Trail Blazers   $13,500,000
Emeka Okafor   Washington Wizards   $13,490,000
Luol Deng   Chicago Bulls   $13,305,000
Josh Smith   Atlanta Hawks   $13,200,000
Danny Granger   Indiana Pacers   $13,058,606
Nene   Washington Wizards   $13,000,000
Andrew Bogut   Golden State Warriors   $13,000,000
David Lee   Golden State Warriors   $12,744,000
Tony Parker   San Antonio Spurs   $12,500,000
Kevin Martin   Oklahoma City Thunder   $12,439,675
Ben Gordon   Charlotte Bobcats   $12,400,000
Kris Humphries   Brooklyn Nets   $12,000,000
Al Horford   Atlanta Hawks   $12,000,000
Hedo Turkoglu   Orlando Magic   $11,815,850
Kevin Garnett   Boston Celtics   $11,566,265
Joakim Noah   Chicago Bulls   $11,300,000
Jose Calderon   Detroit Pistons   $11,046,591
Monta Ellis   Milwaukee Bucks   $11,000,000
Rajon Rondo   Boston Celtics   $11,000,000
Corey Maggette   Detroit Pistons   $10,924,138
Nicolas Batum   Portland Trail Blazers   $10,825,000

For reference, those are the 50 highest players in the league.

[badshar]

He's definitely not worth 15 million. Unfortunately he's just a little too past his prime to be the number one option on a contender.
15 million is Lebron James, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose money. Maybe back in 2007-2010 but this post season has just shown we are going no where with him as our number one option and taking up 15 million of our 50 million in capspace.

You can pay him 15 million and bring him back to bow out of the first or second round again or we can wipe the slate clean.

The whole argument about Pierce is that he's paid so much, and he's still a great player, but he's just not good enough to lead us to a championship, playing 15 million kind of minutes. People need to realize how poor he's become on the defensive end in the last 2 years. We even resorted to putting our power forward on the rival SF's that are in the same pay bracket as our SF! There's a reason why Danny put a 5 million buyout on the tail end of Pierces deal, so we could move him on if he hit the veteran decline. Rondo going down was just too much of a burden for Pierce to handle at his age.

Id personally just move him on so we can either afford another player with more impact for the same money, or a can lose as many games as possible to better our lottery placement.
Keeping Pierce means we are a mediocre team, and being mediocre just means a repeat of this year or perhaps a 2nd round exit. I love him him but the longer we keep Pierce, the further away we are banner 18.

This is like the 100th time I have said it. Pierce was the number one option because Rondo was down.

WHY DO YOU GUYS KEEP IGNORING THE FACT THAT RONDO WASN'T PLAYING?

If Rondo was playing, he would have been the number one option.

Not just you, but to almost all Celtics fans, seriously, how hard is to remember that Rajon Rondo was not playing? Someone had to take the number one option and take on the leadership and if you would have anyone other than Pierce take the leadership of the team, you are either too delusional or don't know what you are talking about.

[chambers]

He's definitely not worth 15 million. Unfortunately he's just a little too past his prime to be the number one option on a contender.
15 million is Lebron James, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose money. Maybe back in 2007-2010 but this post season has just shown we are going no where with him as our number one option and taking up 15 million of our 50 million in capspace.

You can pay him 15 million and bring him back to bow out of the first or second round again or we can wipe the slate clean.

The whole argument about Pierce is that he's paid so much, and he's still a great player, but he's just not good enough to lead us to a championship, playing 15 million kind of minutes.

Id personally just move him on so we can either afford another player with more impact for the same money, or a can lose as many games as possible to better our lottery placement.
Keeping Pierce means we are a mediocre team, and being mediocre just means a repeat of this year or perhaps a 2nd round exit. I love him him but the longer we keep Pierce, the further away we are banner 18.

Providing this team is healthy, I don't think it's a guaranteed out in the 2nd round. Outside Miami, who would the Celtics be heavy underdogs against in the east?

Not sure on Bynums status or if Pau Gasol ends up in the East, but id put

Miami
Bulls
Pacers
76ers with Bynum & an impact wing free agent.
Knicks (we are about even With them , perhaps a player better with Rondo and Sully)
With Miami & Chicago clearly out in front of us and the pacers/knicks/76ers.

Think about how poor Pierce has become on the defensive end and the cringing we all experienced when New York doubled him off pick and rolls and switches. Shumpert killed him.
There is zero chance of beating the Bulls with Rose  or Miami next year unless they both suffer let player injuries. Even if Rose went down it's questionable if we could beat Chicago.

[chambers]

He's definitely not worth 15 million. Unfortunately he's just a little too past his prime to be the number one option on a contender.
15 million is Lebron James, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose money. Maybe back in 2007-2010 but this post season has just shown we are going no where with him as our number one option and taking up 15 million of our 50 million in capspace.

You can pay him 15 million and bring him back to bow out of the first or second round again or we can wipe the slate clean.

The whole argument about Pierce is that he's paid so much, and he's still a great player, but he's just not good enough to lead us to a championship, playing 15 million kind of minutes. People need to realize how poor he's become on the defensive end in the last 2 years. We even resorted to putting our power forward on the rival SF's that are in the same pay bracket as our SF! There's a reason why Danny put a 5 million buyout on the tail end of Pierces deal, so we could move him on if he hit the veteran decline. Rondo going down was just too much of a burden for Pierce to handle at his age.

Id personally just move him on so we can either afford another player with more impact for the same money, or a can lose as many games as possible to better our lottery placement.
Keeping Pierce means we are a mediocre team, and being mediocre just means a repeat of this year or perhaps a 2nd round exit. I love him him but the longer we keep Pierce, the further away we are banner 18.

This is like the 100th time I have said it. Pierce was the number one option because Rondo was down.

WHY DO YOU GUYS KEEP IGNORING THE FACT THAT RONDO WASN'T PLAYING?

If Rondo was playing, he would have been the number one option.

Not just you, but to almost all Celtics fans, seriously, how hard is to remember that Rajon Rondo was not playing? Someone had to take the number one option and take on the leadership and if you would have anyone other than Pierce take the leadership of the team, you are either too delusional or don't know what you are talking about.

No one's ignoring that fact, I think you're ignoring that Rondo is not the number one scoring option. When has Rondo ever been the number one scoring option?
Pierce's defense has become horrible- he can't guard elite small forwards anymore. He's great but he is not a number one option at 15 million and that's why we must move on.
You're delusional if you think we are getting anywhere near another championship with Paul Pierce taking up 15 million of a 49 million salary cap.
Please read all posts before spouting off on a tangent. You seem to do it a lot and it's annoying as hell. Put some thought and insight into yourposts instead of going off on emotional tangents all the time it's getting old.
Give us your grand plan for winning a championship with Paul Pierce on the roster for 15 million a season. Be my guest.