Pierce wants to play in Europe before he retires

source

"As far as retiring from the NBA, I think I will be done after this contract because eventually I want to go overseas and play and live for a couple of years. That's why this is a big contract for me, knowing I'm going to retire a Boston Celtic. I want to go to either Italy or Greece for a year. I think I want to be able to bring my family over to just kind of share a different experience overseas for a couple of years, before I settle into retirement."

Last edited by George7 on Sat Aug 21, 2010 12:51 am, edited 1 time in total.

He's not a free agent yet, most likely he won't be either (not guaranteed, but I doubt that he opts out). If he indeed opts out, it's most likely just to get a final long term deal from the Celts.

Yeah, I reckon he stays with Boston to preserve his legacy (and because they are a good team and would probably pay him the most). Granted, Pierce does know a thing or two about back-stabbing.




get it?

Even he opts out, I don't see him going anywhere. Seeing him some place else would look as weird as Duncan playing for some other team.

If he does opt out, I'd say it would only be to negotiate a new deal with the Celtics. Anything's possible of course but if I had to hazard a guess I'd say Pierce fancies himself a Celtic for life and even with their future looking a little uncertain, would rather do all he can to help the Celtics continue to contend than try and turn another team into a contender or get a free ride to another ring.

The only way I see them not re-signing Pierce is if they decide to go for a quick and massive rebuild, which would leave them with only Garnett, Perkins, Davis and Rondo under contract (if they won't trade Rasheed's instant cap relief), after that they will have around $20M cap space (don't know the exact figure). Maybe even then they would deal KG as well to gain more cap space, perhaps to Dallas (maybe something along DUST chip + Butler, although I don't know how KG and Dirk would mesh), this way, their line-up should look like this:

C - Perkins
PF - Davis
SF - Butler
SG - FA
PG - Rondo

with approx $25-$30M still to spend (don't know the exact number).

SG can be Joe Johnson or Josh Childress?

The only way I see them not re-signing Pierce is if they decide to go for a quick and massive rebuild, which would leave them with only Garnett, Perkins, Davis and Rondo under contract (if they won't trade Rasheed's instant cap relief), after that they will have around $20M cap space (don't know the exact figure). Maybe even then they would deal KG as well to gain more cap space, perhaps to Dallas (maybe something along DUST chip + Butler, although I don't know how KG and Dirk would mesh), this way, their line-up should look like this:

C - Perkins
PF - Davis
SF - Butler
SG - FA
PG - Rondo

with approx $25-$30M still to spend (don't know the exact number).

Interesting scenario, but that's assuming Pierce opts out. Unless he opts out or they buy him out/trade him, Pierce is going to be a Celtic for at least one more year.

SG can be Joe Johnson or Josh Childress?

Johnson would be a nice option.
Childress said that he would like to end his contract with Olympiakos this year and after it either make a new deal or return to the NBA.Of course he has the clause of signing with an NBA team until July 15 but it doesn't seem he will make use of it unless there is a really good option.

About Pierce.As i see,unless Celtics decide to give him away and build a new team he will negotiate another contract with them.
And that's pretty expected.He was a Celtic all his career till now.As you said it is like Duncan moving away from Spurs

i think pierce will stay in the celtics

The only way I see them not re-signing Pierce is if they decide to go for a quick and massive rebuild, which would leave them with only Garnett, Perkins, Davis and Rondo under contract (if they won't trade Rasheed's instant cap relief), after that they will have around $20M cap space (don't know the exact figure). Maybe even then they would deal KG as well to gain more cap space, perhaps to Dallas (maybe something along DUST chip + Butler, although I don't know how KG and Dirk would mesh), this way, their line-up should look like this:

C - Perkins
PF - Davis
SF - Butler
SG - FA
PG - Rondo

with approx $25-$30M still to spend (don't know the exact number).

Interesting scenario, but that's assuming Pierce opts out. Unless he opts out or they buy him out/trade him, Pierce is going to be a Celtic for at least one more year.

Yes, it's rather unlikely scenario, but it's not completely out of the question. Personally, I would prefer if they would keep the core intact. Re-sign Ray to a 2-year contract (bird rights), if Pierce opts out, re-sign him as well, same goes for Tony Allen (bird rights again), try to re-sign Nate Robinson (max they can offer is 120% of his last contract, without giving up MLE on him), if Daniels comes cheap as well, but I doubt that, use Rasheed as a trade chip (similar to Damp in Dallas, instant cap relief as Rasheed will file papers after the trade) for a back-up PF/C, then use the MLE on Mike Miller, bring back Scalabrine as a mascot and they're good to go with another 2-year window.

C - Perkins/Whatever they get from Sheed/3rd string cheap center, maybe Williams will come back?
PF - KG/Davis/Scalabrine
SF - Pierce/Miller
SG - Allen/Allen/Bradley
PG - Rondo/Robinson/Bradley

If Allen starts to shoot bricks again, Miller can come in and replace him. 2 years after, they will completely blow up as both KG and Ray expire and then be a player in the FA.

i think pierce will stay in the celtics

yah, pierce loves there i think... you mean ricky pierce? paul never do it i think... because pierce34=celtics...

wtf is wrong with you

He's Turkish. What do you expect?

I don't think Pierce's opting out. 22 million dollars for his last year. That ain't too shabby for 32 years old guy if he still is capable of providing 15-20ppg next season which would guarantee him another good contract for a few years.

Indeed, it's a lot of money to walk away from, more than his next contract is going to be worth. That said, if he's willing to take a paycut to help the Celtics re-tool then I could see him re-signing for a few more years at a lower salary, perhaps one that's front-loaded.

opinions on this?
Updated this thread,don't wanted to create a new one

On the 1st post

Well if that's what he wants, he should go for it, though the competition will be less in Europe.

If he goes to Europe I believe that he will go to Spain.

I want to go to either Italy or Greece for a year.

I don't know about you Badger, but I think Paul Pierce thinks Italy/Greece > Spain.

Greece for sure..

Olympiakos for sure!

I think Italy will be a bad opinion. He should go to Greece.

He wouldn't be the first, nor the last to do that. Let's see how he feels when his NBA contract is up though, he may just want to call it a day by that point.

I'd be inclined to agree with Andrew, when all is said & done, he'll probably retire a Celtic.