Paul Pierce has had an amazing career. He’s been one of the best clutch scorers of our time, and will be inducted into the Hall of Fame when he retires. That won’t be this year, though. After mulling it over, Pierce has decided to play the 2015-2016 season. The only question remaining is where he will play it.
The Wizards want him back. That much is clear. Pierce is adored by the fans in Washington, just as he was by those in Boston. You can’t help falling in love with Pierce as a player if he’s on your team. In the playoffs this year, he showed that, at the age of 37, he can still do what he’s done throughout his 17-year career: Come through in the clutch. He played superbly in crunch time for the Wizards, although the team wound up falling short to the Atlanta Hawks. It isn’t just the fans who love Pierce though, the players do as well. John Wall has stated that he wants Pierce to return, and you can bet that the rest of the team has the same opinion.
However, the Wizards may not get their wish. From Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post:
Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce has decided to play next season but is expected to bypass his $5.5 million player option, according to two people with knowledge of the situation. The decision, which is due by the end of the month, would make Pierce a free agent for the second straight year.
Opting out opens the possibility of Pierce playing his 18th NBA season elsewhere but does not completely eliminate the prospect of Pierce returning to Washington. Pierce could choose to re-sign.
The most probable destination outside of the District would be to go back home to play for the Los Angeles Clippers and reunite with Doc Rivers, his coach for nine seasons with the Boston Celtics. Los Angeles has limited salary cap flexibility and will likely only be able to offer Pierce, who celebrates his 38th birthday in October, the taxpayer mid-level exception of $3.37 million for next season, but are closer to winning a championship than the Wizards even in the loaded Western Conference.
The Boston fan in me expects to see Pierce stay in Washington, as he never bailed on the Celtics, sticking around through the good and the bad for 15 seasons. However, as Castillo mentioned, the Clippers are certainly an option. His former coach in Boston Doc Rivers is there, and there have been reports that the Clippers will target him should he opt out of his contract, and that Pierce is likely to take the Clippers up on their offer.
Wherever Pierce ends up, you’ve got to believe that he’ll have an impact. He’s a bit like the Spurs; people all over will say that he’s too old and washed up to compete, but he always comes through. Pierce is a veteran who brings tremendous leadership, but unlike some vets, he isn’t there just for his presence in the locker room. He can go on the court and knock down shots, and everyone knows it. He always competes, and if he feels he can still play, he’s going to be a big factor for whichever team he chooses.
