Pierce gives interview: "I didn't want to be part of rebuilding"

[More Banners]

The Truth, yes.  It worked out for all concerned...

Though, if Rondo and Green are who we think they are, and KG and Pierce are who they think they are, then wouldn't at team of Rondo/Pierce/Green/KG been able to go deep in the playoffs and contend?

Aren't Rondo/Green > DWilliams/JJohnson anyway?

Ownership was really stung by that first-round out this year, I think.  That put it all on the table. #lostfaith

[merkins]

For a guy as accomplished as Pierce, his ego is surprisingly in check.  I have to believe though, some of what he's sharing in these quotes has been worked out in his own head after he was traded.

He was literally shocked after the trade, his ability to rationalize everything thats happened is a great way to close the Celtics chapter of his career. 

Now when I think of Ray Allen, the contrast between the two players couldnt be more clear.

[European NBA fan]

The Truth, yes.  It worked out for all concerned...

Though, if Rondo and Green are who we think they are, and KG and Pierce are who they think they are, then wouldn't at team of Rondo/Pierce/Green/KG been able to go deep in the playoffs and contend?

Aren't Rondo/Green > DWilliams/JJohnson anyway?

Ownership was really stung by that first-round out this year, I think.  That put it all on the table. #lostfaith

Johnson is an all star in his prime and I consider him better than Green. I would probably prefer Rondo over Williams, but that is a tough call.
But you forget Lopez who is one of the best big men on offense when he is healthy. Having a big man rotation of Lopez, Blatche and KG is >> anything the Celtics would be able to put together this summer.

[More Banners]

The Truth, yes.  It worked out for all concerned...

Though, if Rondo and Green are who we think they are, and KG and Pierce are who they think they are, then wouldn't at team of Rondo/Pierce/Green/KG been able to go deep in the playoffs and contend?

Aren't Rondo/Green > DWilliams/JJohnson anyway?

Ownership was really stung by that first-round out this year, I think.  That put it all on the table. #lostfaith

Johnson is an all star in his prime and I consider him better than Green. I would probably prefer Rondo over Williams, but that is a tough call.
But you forget Lopez who is one of the best big men on offense when he is healthy. Having a big man rotation of Lopez, Blatche and KG is >> anything the Celtics would be able to put together this summer.

That's the kicker of the whole thing, though, and I'm not sure if anyone else is bothered by this, but...

If one big-time center is the difference, I don't think Danny would have considered giving up what would be necessary to get that player for next year, namely multiple 1sts.  A heavy price.  But for a shot at the ring, he gave up one it before free agency began.

[2short]

TP for Ainge, Doc, KG and PP

[mmmmm]

The Truth, yes.  It worked out for all concerned...

Though, if Rondo and Green are who we think they are, and KG and Pierce are who they think they are, then wouldn't at team of Rondo/Pierce/Green/KG been able to go deep in the playoffs and contend?

Aren't Rondo/Green > DWilliams/JJohnson anyway?

Ownership was really stung by that first-round out this year, I think.  That put it all on the table. #lostfaith

Johnson is an all star in his prime and I consider him better than Green. I would probably prefer Rondo over Williams, but that is a tough call.
But you forget Lopez who is one of the best big men on offense when he is healthy. Having a big man rotation of Lopez, Blatche and KG is >> anything the Celtics would be able to put together this summer.

I agree with that point.   Also, if Doc was really burned out (hey - it happens after a decade on a job) then that would have been an additional nudge towards the inevitable.

[Eja117]

SLAM: I imagine the return to Boston will be pretty emotional.

PP: Oh it’s definitely gonna be emotional. You spend almost half of your life in Boston, so a lot of emotions are gonna run deep, because of friends and the things you accomplished there. The fans there, the season tickets owners—I know a lot of them. I’ll see all those people.

SLAM: Some members of the media have been saying they believe Doc Rivers quit on the Celtics. How do you feel about all that?

PP: Well, I know the insides with everything that’s going on. A lot of stuff got blown out of proportion because of the media, but Doc has always said he didn’t want to be a part of a rebuilding situation. I’ve always stated that the past four or five years. After the season, the owners decided they wanted to go in that direction. It made Doc look like he was quitting but at the same time it was mutual—everything was mutual at the end. The trade, Doc leaving. I didn’t want to be a part of rebuilding; Kevin didn’t want to be a part of rebuilding; Doc didn’t want to be part of rebuilding. I think it was all mutual. We’ve done so much for the franchise that they wanted to help on our end. So Doc went to L.A., and they sent us to Brooklyn for a chance to win a Championship. That’s pretty much the way it was. Nothing more, nothing less.

http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2013/08/paul-pierce-brooklyn-nets-celtics/

Not buying it. Not for a second

[Eja117]

You know Paul, lying to me is one thing. But don't lie to yourself. If you were so dead set against being part of a rebuild all you needed to do was leave about $14 mill on the table, right? Just say "Hey guys. I really don't want to be part of a rebuild. Just buy me out and I'll be out of here." But that wasn't the case was it?  Instead it was the oooolllldddd Brett Favre "How much? Yeah I'm gonna keep playing."  Then you get traded to the Nets and it's all mutual.  Yeah. It was all mutual while you could make all the money. That was definitely mutual.  I give you that. 

[DarkAzcura]

The Truth, yes.  It worked out for all concerned...

Though, if Rondo and Green are who we think they are, and KG and Pierce are who they think they are, then wouldn't at team of Rondo/Pierce/Green/KG been able to go deep in the playoffs and contend?

Aren't Rondo/Green > DWilliams/JJohnson anyway?

Ownership was really stung by that first-round out this year, I think.  That put it all on the table. #lostfaith

Johnson is an all star in his prime and I consider him better than Green. I would probably prefer Rondo over Williams, but that is a tough call.
But you forget Lopez who is one of the best big men on offense when he is healthy. Having a big man rotation of Lopez, Blatche and KG is >> anything the Celtics would be able to put together this summer.

That's the kicker of the whole thing, though, and I'm not sure if anyone else is bothered by this, but...

If one big-time center is the difference, I don't think Danny would have considered giving up what would be necessary to get that player for next year, namely multiple 1sts.  A heavy price.  But for a shot at the ring, he gave up one it before free agency began.

We really had no way of getting a center as good as Lopez this offseason. Any deal involving a center would have seen one of Green or Rondo getting traded, I think, which wouldn't have made it worth it. Even a player of Blatche's caliber would have been difficult to acquire. :/

[sed522002]

You know Paul, lying to me is one thing. But don't lie to yourself. If you were so dead set against being part of a rebuild all you needed to do was leave about $14 mill on the table, right? Just say "Hey guys. I really don't want to be part of a rebuild. Just buy me out and I'll be out of here." But that wasn't the case was it?  Instead it was the oooolllldddd Brett Favre "How much? Yeah I'm gonna keep playing."  Then you get traded to the Nets and it's all mutual.  Yeah. It was all mutual while you could make all the money. That was definitely mutual.  I give you that.

In another interview Pierce said that he was going to be selfish (his words) and 1st see what was best for him and the team (I think he deserves that right to get the most out of the situation).

[Eja117]

You know Paul, lying to me is one thing. But don't lie to yourself. If you were so dead set against being part of a rebuild all you needed to do was leave about $14 mill on the table, right? Just say "Hey guys. I really don't want to be part of a rebuild. Just buy me out and I'll be out of here." But that wasn't the case was it?  Instead it was the oooolllldddd Brett Favre "How much? Yeah I'm gonna keep playing."  Then you get traded to the Nets and it's all mutual.  Yeah. It was all mutual while you could make all the money. That was definitely mutual.  I give you that.

In another interview Pierce said that he was going to be selfish (his words) and 1st see what was best for him and the team (I think he deserves that right to get the most out of the situation).

Right. When you look at what's best for you and you're selfish that has nothing to do with mutual. He's a pro. He gets paid. It's what he and his agent do. There's nothing mutual about it. I don't think him and Doc have a good understanding of the word "mutual". Either that or they think we don't.

[syfy9]

The Truth, yes.  It worked out for all concerned...

Though, if Rondo and Green are who we think they are, and KG and Pierce are who they think they are, then wouldn't at team of Rondo/Pierce/Green/KG been able to go deep in the playoffs and contend?

Aren't Rondo/Green > DWilliams/JJohnson anyway?

Ownership was really stung by that first-round out this year, I think.  That put it all on the table. #lostfaith

Johnson is an all star in his prime and I consider him better than Green. I would probably prefer Rondo over Williams, but that is a tough call.
But you forget Lopez who is one of the best big men on offense when he is healthy. Having a big man rotation of Lopez, Blatche and KG is >> anything the Celtics would be able to put together this summer.

Johnson is not going to be an all-star anytime soon, while Green is on the rise. You take the younger player with more potential over the older player with the worst contract in the NBA.

For this Nets team, I'd rather have Williams, even though I think Rondo is better than Williams. D-Will hasn't been surrounded with this kind of premier talent since ever. It's possible we could see another 20/10 season from him because now he might actually try and care.

Williams a couple years ago is around Rondo's ceiling, I think.

[billysan]

We will be second guessing the trade of PP and KG for years along with the departure of Doc. IMO, Danny is haunted by the possible previous mistake by Red to not trade out any of the big three when they were starting to decline in the eighties. Red may have even advised him to do this for the 'good of the franchise', who knows?

Regardless, PP and KG along with Doc will be a part of Celtic lore for eternity. They already are I guess. Next decade there will be posters reminiscing about the good old days with KG, PP, Ray, Perk and Rondo. Heck, Rondo may be our new coach with PP as the GM.