Could Pierce play for the C's next season?

[the TRUTH]

My apologies if this has already been brought up before.

Pierce is my favorite Celtic of all time. He has two years remaining on his deal with the Clippers, and it sounds like he's at least considering retiring this summer. Hypothetically, let's say he decides to continue playing beyond this season, and the C's have a huge summer (some combination of winning at least a round in the playoffs, landing a top-two pick in the draft, luring an All-Star free agent, a blockbuster trade, etc.).

Based on these moves, Boston has established itself as a legitimate contender for the title in 2016-17 (Pierce returning to Boston doesn't make sense unless the C's are legit contenders). Does Ainge orchestrate a minor trade to bring Pierce home to serve as a veteran scorer off the bench and try to win one more title? As long as Paul can still do it physically and still has the desire to prepare all offseason long, I can't imagine a better way for him to finish his career.

[BornReady]

it wouldn't really make sense for clippers to trade pierce
as he provides stability at the SF spot and is what clippers need in a SF
a swingman that can shoot the 3, defend the position, and sometimes playmake

hard to argue trading pierce away as he is an establish vet with playoff exp

[Hemingway]

Doc might do it if Paul asked him to.

[the TRUTH]

IMO, what makes it most likely for the Clippers to be open to a trade is if they get knocked out by Portland. If that happens, maybe they try to shake things up and move Griffin and/or Jordan. Based on the newly configured roster, maybe they see Pierce as not being quite as essential based on their new needs, especially since he'll be a year older. Then when you factor in Pierce's relationship with Doc, and the fact that Boston isn't in the same conference as the Clippers, I do think there's a realistic chance the Clippers would be open to moving him for the right price.

The question then becomes what the Celtics need to offer to make it happen, and how much Ainge is willing to give up. I think Ainge has proven in the past that, if he feels like the C's are legitimate title contenders, he's willing to use his assets to make the roster incrementally better. In the hypothetical situation of the original post in this thread, I do think Ainge might consider sending an early second round pick and/or a younger player that is somewhat of a duplicate on the 2016-17 Boston roster (maybe Olynyk, Mickey, Sullinger, Rozier, etc.) to the Clippers as the main piece in the deal for Pierce. If Pierce really isn't in the Clippers' plans, it'd make a lot of sense for both sides.

[knuckleballer]

I love the guy, but he is cooked.  He averaged just 6.1 ppg this year on 36% shooting overall and 31% from three.  That was a huge drop off from the prior year.  It's time to call it a career.

[walker834]

I feel like Pierce will be traded to us for cash considerations and one of the many 2nd round picks we have at some point when he is ready to retire so he can retire here.

Ainge needs to unload all these 2nd round picks somehow.  Pierce will be 1 or 2 of them guaranteed.

I just don't know if Pierce is ready to retire yet.  It will happen in the next couple offseasons though.

If it's not this year Ainge will probably parlay a couple this year for next year for that purpose.