Paul Pierce to be bought out to join the Clippers?

[slamdunk]

I hope not. I hate the clippers after what they pulled here. I hope they go 0-82.

[Rondo2287]

This isn't surprising at all.

I'd find it very surprising if Danny can't find a single team out there that needs cap space and is willing to trade something of value for the ability to waive him.

I mean not even a second rounder?

I've accepted the deal we got from LAC for KG and Doc. 2 firsts and DJ is better than nothing, I guess. But if we simply waive Pierce and hand him to LAC for free? Its like getting mugged by Sacks all over again.

Not only that but we aren't even sending him there for free, we have to pay him 5m on top of that.

Danny has to find a deal out there or I'd rather keep Pierce and trade him at the deadline. Its unfair to PP, but 16m expiring at the deadline would be appealing and some other teams might be interested in bringing him in for the playoffs. Ainge is a GM, he shouldn't be in the business of giving talent away for free.

I don't think this is going to happen. I wouldn't worry about it.

Pierce has too much value as a trade asset to simply buy him out.

Doesn't he have more value as a trade asset before July 1 so another team could buy him out?

[Who]

This isn't surprising at all.

I'd find it very surprising if Danny can't find a single team out there that needs cap space and is willing to trade something of value for the ability to waive him.

I mean not even a second rounder?

I've accepted the deal we got from LAC for KG and Doc. 2 firsts and DJ is better than nothing, I guess. But if we simply waive Pierce and hand him to LAC for free? Its like getting mugged by Sacks all over again.

Not only that but we aren't even sending him there for free, we have to pay him 5m on top of that.

Danny has to find a deal out there or I'd rather keep Pierce and trade him at the deadline. Its unfair to PP, but 16m expiring at the deadline would be appealing and some other teams might be interested in bringing him in for the playoffs. Ainge is a GM, he shouldn't be in the business of giving talent away for free.

I don't think this is going to happen. I wouldn't worry about it.

Pierce has too much value as a trade asset to simply buy him out.

Doesn't he have more value as a trade asset before July 1 so another team could buy him out?

I think Pierce still has good value as an expiring contract after that. And value as a player as well.

I wouldn't be worried if Danny hasn't made a trade by July 1st.

[Monkhouse]

Can we still somehow get Paul Pierce for Josh Smith? Or is that a no go?

[slamtheking]

can't see just buying him out.  makes no sense.  if that were the case, Clips should have included Bledsoe as well to make it a fair trade.

I think it's more likely PP gets traded to someone looking for cap space where we take on some expiring deals and a pick.  The proposed Dallas deal would seem a reasonable possibility even though the incoming talent isn't worth getting excited about

[Evantime34]

This isn't surprising at all.

I'd find it very surprising if Danny can't find a single team out there that needs cap space and is willing to trade something of value for the ability to waive him.

I mean not even a second rounder?

I've accepted the deal we got from LAC for KG and Doc. 2 firsts and DJ is better than nothing, I guess. But if we simply waive Pierce and hand him to LAC for free? Its like getting mugged by Sacks all over again.

Not only that but we aren't even sending him there for free, we have to pay him 5m on top of that.

Danny has to find a deal out there or I'd rather keep Pierce and trade him at the deadline. Its unfair to PP, but 16m expiring at the deadline would be appealing and some other teams might be interested in bringing him in for the playoffs. Ainge is a GM, he shouldn't be in the business of giving talent away for free.

I don't think this is going to happen. I wouldn't worry about it.

Pierce has too much value as a trade asset to simply buy him out.

On Simmons and Russilo's podcast they said their sources thought it was laughable that they would buy Pierce out. Both those guys have ties to the Celtics and I trust them more than pro sports talk or whatever.

[Boris Badenov]

Any of you cap gurus know how much Dallas and Houston will have with and without the Pierce cap savings? Would this push either team over the threshold in terms of signing DH? Or two max guys?

Who else wants to save money?

New York
NJ
ORL
POR
CHI
WAS

These are just guesses. I'm not up enough on the individual teams' view points on whether saving money is important. But these are all teams whose payrolls in 2013 and beyond look a little out of whack compared to their performance.

[connor]

This isn't surprising at all.

I'd find it very surprising if Danny can't find a single team out there that needs cap space and is willing to trade something of value for the ability to waive him.

I mean not even a second rounder?

I've accepted the deal we got from LAC for KG and Doc. 2 firsts and DJ is better than nothing, I guess. But if we simply waive Pierce and hand him to LAC for free? Its like getting mugged by Sacks all over again.

Not only that but we aren't even sending him there for free, we have to pay him 5m on top of that.

Danny has to find a deal out there or I'd rather keep Pierce and trade him at the deadline. Its unfair to PP, but 16m expiring at the deadline would be appealing and some other teams might be interested in bringing him in for the playoffs. Ainge is a GM, he shouldn't be in the business of giving talent away for free.

I don't think this is going to happen. I wouldn't worry about it.

Pierce has too much value as a trade asset to simply buy him out.

Doesn't he have more value as a trade asset before July 1 so another team could buy him out?

Thats his immediate value, but if we chose to keep him for half a season or until the trade deadline he could be a valuable player for a contender (especially if we keep his minutes down and him fresh for the playoffs since we aren't going to be competing).

Alternatively he is a huge expiring deal, so a team might be willing to give up mid-late 2014 pick if they are chasing a particular 2014 FA. We could have our own lottery pick, the Clippers' pick (if thats in the KG deal) and another 2014. Thats a huge infusion of youth/talent for the rebuild.

The only problem would be that I don't want to do Pierce wrong by keeping him on an rebuilding team even for half a season. If there aren't any good deals before July 1st though that'll just be something you'd have to live with.

[connor]

Any of you cap gurus know how much Dallas and Houston will have with and without the Pierce cap savings? Would this push either team over the threshold in terms of signing DH? Or two max guys?

Who else wants to save money?

New York
NJ
ORL
POR
CHI
WAS

These are just guesses. I'm not up enough on the individual teams' view points on whether saving money is important. But these are all teams whose payrolls in 2013 and beyond look a little out of whack compared to their performance.

Toronto would love to shed Bargnani's contract. Some people have said New Orleans (I don't think they NEED to though, but maybe just to move Gordon's deal). And then there is always the Lakers who are verging on cap hell.

[Fafnir]

Any of you cap gurus know how much Dallas and Houston will have with and without the Pierce cap savings? Would this push either team over the threshold in terms of signing DH? Or two max guys?

Who else wants to save money?

New York
NJ
ORL
POR
CHI
WAS

These are just guesses. I'm not up enough on the individual teams' view points on whether saving money is important. But these are all teams whose payrolls in 2013 and beyond look a little out of whack compared to their performance.

Toronto would love to shed Bargnani's contract. Some people have said New Orleans (I don't think they NEED to though, but maybe just to move Gordon's deal). And then there is always the Lakers who are verging on cap hell.

Lakers are in cap hell for one more year, after that everyone's off their books except Nash. (and Howard if they retain him)

[CFAN38]

At the very worst I expect him to be traded to a team like Golden state.

Jefferson (expiring 10mill) + Rush (expiring 4mill) + 2015 1st

For

Paul Pierce

Cs add a pick, GS saves $$ to sign Jack

[Chris]

I really would be shocked if Pierce is bought out (by the C's).  He just is too good and too productive a player, and his contract is too friendly.  He has to have a decent amount of value, either to help a team shed payroll, or to help a team make a run next year. 

The only way he would be bought out IMO is if it is as a favor to him, so he can choose his next destination.  But, I don't think Danny will do that.  I think Danny will work with him to find a situation that works for him, but he won't give away the asset for nothing.  It is not Danny's MO.

[Celtics Insider]

Pierce, KG, and Doc for DJ and 2 low 1sts?

If this is true, I will become a Lakers fan (not really, but I'll still be extremely mad).

Not only are we going to get robbed in the LAC trade, but we're not even gonna get anything in return for Pierce?

[Boris Badenov]

I really would be shocked if Pierce is bought out (by the C's).  He just is too good and too productive a player, and his contract is too friendly.  He has to have a decent amount of value, either to help a team shed payroll, or to help a team make a run next year. 

The only way he would be bought out IMO is if it is as a favor to him, so he can choose his next destination.  But, I don't think Danny will do that.  I think Danny will work with him to find a situation that works for him, but he won't give away the asset for nothing.  It is not Danny's MO.

If the team who acquires him waives him, then the last part of the equation gets much easier. Pierce can sign with whomever he wants, right?

It actually is better for PP in terms of freedom than just trading him to someone who keeps him. And if he signs for the MLE, the salary difference after his buyout is what, around $5 million?

[MBunge]

If the Clippers hadn't played hardball, I imagine Ainge would have been more than willing to do a "wink, wink" deal where the Clips throw in Bledsoe instead of that second 1st rounder and Ainge decides that buying out Pierce is in the best interests of the Celtics.

Now, I'd bet that Ainge would rather keep Pierce and let him play out the last year of his contract rather than let him walk to LA for nothing.

Mike