Paul Pierce Wanted To Play For Clippers

NBA veteran Paul Pierce left the Brooklyn Nets for the Washington Wizards in the offseason but admitted he wanted to play for the Los Angeles Clippers.

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When the

decided to rebuild in 2013, they dealt swingman Paul Pierce, big man Kevin Garnett and guard Jason Terry to the Brooklyn Nets.

After one season (and a trip to the second round of the playoffs) in Brooklyn Nets, Piece signed with the Washington Wizards. However, as he waited to see if the Nets wanted to keep him, he may have missed out on a golden opportunity. While he waited on the Nets, the Los Angeles Clippers used their mid level exception to sign veteran big man Spencer Hawes. That’s why Pierce wound up with the Wizards instead of playing under his former coach, Doc Rivers.

“I thought a lot about L.A. (in the offseason),” Pierce told Sports Illustrated. “My wife wanted to stay there and put the kids in school. It would have been an easier transition for me being with Doc (Rivers), being at home. I think I missed out on that opportunity by waiting to see what Brooklyn was going to do. When they eventually said they weren’t going to make any moves, I missed that boat. That kind of upset me.”

The reason he waited is because he believed he would be back in Brooklyn.

“I thought I would end up back in Brooklyn,” he said. “Talking to Kevin [Garnett], we created a bond over the years and I said I would come back and finish it out with him. Things didn’t go the way we wanted, obviously. Brooklyn went in a different direction. I had to make a choice.”

Pierce’s Wizards have gotten off to an excellent 5-2 start. Pierce is averaging 11.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.

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