Paul Pierce is in the driver’s seat when it comes to his career, which is good, I think he deserves to be calling his own shots when it comes to playing next year.
And realise that it’s not only about him playing next season, it’s whether he wants to call it a career in the next year or two. But for this time being, he is going to play basketball for the 2015-16 season.
He indicated retiring was a possibility, but a month later Pierce is set on playing next season, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
The question is where. The 10-time all-star will likely decide between two teams for his 18th campaign: the Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers. Pierce emphasized he loved his year with the Wizards, guiding the Wizards’ young core and getting another crack at the postseason in a more diminished role. And just because he opts out his contract doesn’t mean he won’t stay in the District; Pierce, who turns 38 in October, could sign a one-year deal for more than $5.5 million to stick around, which would also help the Wizards keep the flexibility they desire for the much-anticipated summer of 2016.
The Clippers will likely only be able to offer Pierce the mini-midlevel exception of $3.37 million, but they are arguably closer to hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy than the Wizards.
Now if it wasn’t the Clippers, I’d say this is a classic ‘money or chance of a trophy’ situation. But I can’t trust the Clippers to do anything, they have fallen short so many times I have 0 confidence in them now. Personally I’d go with Washington, he knows that he’s needed, he gets a good paycheck, and if they have a good offseason I can see the Wiz making it to at least the Conference Finals next year.
