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NBA Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Clippers Also Interested In Paul Pierce

By Vytis Lasaitis

January 4, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (34) sits on the bench during the first quarter against the New Jersey Nets at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
January 4, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (34) sits on the bench during the first quarter against the New Jersey Nets at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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January 4, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (34) sits on the bench during the first quarter against the New Jersey Nets at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
January 4, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (34) sits on the bench during the first quarter against the New Jersey Nets at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

NBA Trade Rumors — The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Clippers are discussing a blockbuster deal that would send Kevin Garnett to L.A. in return for DeAndre Jordan and Eric Bledsoe. As part of the deal, Boston would release head coach Doc Rivers and allow him to sign with the Clippers. However, it seems as though the Clippers are also interested in Paul Pierce.

The deal that is being discussed is essentially Rivers and KG going one way, while DeAndre Jordan and two first-round picks going the other. The Celtics also want Eric Bledsoe included in the deal, but the Clippers want to keep the young guard for themselves, which is currently the biggest hurdle of the potential trade.

If the trade does happen, the Celtics would most likely buy Pierce out of his contract, allowing him to sign with whoever he pleases, in which case the Clippers would be interested, according to ESPN:

"The Celtics have to decide by the end of June whether to assume the full $15.3 million Pierce is scheduled to make in 2013-14 or buy him out for $5 million. Another option for Boston is trying to trade Pierce in conjunction with this month’s draft, but Pierce’s stature in the organization after his role in helping the Celtics end a 21-season title drought as part of their championship team in 2008 is such that Ainge would almost certainly try to help Pierce get to the team of his choosing if the Celtics indeed decide that they want to go young."

The Celtics would probably benefit more from trying to swing a deal for Pierce in an attempt to gather more young pieces and picks, but just as the ESPN report points out, the team would probably just buy him out of his contract and let him decide where he wants to go.

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