It is time to move on

[MBunge]

The reality is that KG and Pierce will most likely return to Boston but then be traded before the deadline next season, as long as both are still reasonably productive, with Boston probably getting little immediate help back as the team goes into tank mode.

Mike

[PhoSita]

The reality is that KG and Pierce will most likely return to Boston but then be traded before the deadline next season, as long as both are still reasonably productive, with Boston probably getting little immediate help back as the team goes into tank mode.

Mike

The time to trade Pierce and Garnett was probably 2-3 seasons ago.  I'm really skeptical Danny is going to suddenly get a deal he likes for them this trade deadline when he's shopped them hard the past couple of seasons and not gotten any offers he's really liked.

[MBunge]

The reality is that KG and Pierce will most likely return to Boston but then be traded before the deadline next season, as long as both are still reasonably productive, with Boston probably getting little immediate help back as the team goes into tank mode.

Mike

The time to trade Pierce and Garnett was probably 2-3 seasons ago.  I'm really skeptical Danny is going to suddenly get a deal he likes for them this trade deadline when he's shopped them hard the past couple of seasons and not gotten any offers he's really liked.

The trade will happen this time because the team will be going into tank mode, so it won't matter so much what Boston gets in return.  The only thing Ainge won't do is take back a huge contract.  For example, Pierce could be dealt to any team under the cap next year and Boston wouldn't have to take back any salary.  Let's say Cleveland doesn't sign any huge free agents to go over the cap this offseason.  If they're in the running for a playoff spot, I could easily see them doing a Pierce for a future #1 deal.

KG will be a little trickier, but he'll probably agree to a trade if Pierce goes and I'm sure the Clippers would be happy to offer up Caron Butler and a first or Bledsoe and filler.

Mike

[PhoSita]

The reality is that KG and Pierce will most likely return to Boston but then be traded before the deadline next season, as long as both are still reasonably productive, with Boston probably getting little immediate help back as the team goes into tank mode.

Mike

The time to trade Pierce and Garnett was probably 2-3 seasons ago.  I'm really skeptical Danny is going to suddenly get a deal he likes for them this trade deadline when he's shopped them hard the past couple of seasons and not gotten any offers he's really liked.

The trade will happen this time because the team will be going into tank mode, so it won't matter so much what Boston gets in return.  The only thing Ainge won't do is take back a huge contract.  For example, Pierce could be dealt to any team under the cap next year and Boston wouldn't have to take back any salary.  Let's say Cleveland doesn't sign any huge free agents to go over the cap this offseason.  If they're in the running for a playoff spot, I could easily see them doing a Pierce for a future #1 deal.

KG will be a little trickier, but he'll probably agree to a trade if Pierce goes and I'm sure the Clippers would be happy to offer up Caron Butler and a first or Bledsoe and filler.

Mike

At this point I'm just really skeptical that Ainge is ever going to be willing to trade away Pierce or Garnett for "peanuts" with tanking in mind.  I think if he were going to do that, he would have done it already.  He could have traded either or both of them this season for a lesser package, in all likelihood.  But he didn't because he doesn't want to be the guy that traded Paul Pierce or Garnett away for a bundle of garbage.


He's said numerous times in interviews that Pierce and Garnett are more valuable to the Celtics than they are to other teams and that somebody would have to give him a good deal in order for him to trade them, he isn't just going to give them away.