Paul Pierce finalizes deal
A Celtic for life, most likely.
Paul Pierce’s deal to remain a Boston Celtic for the next four years has now been finalized. And the fourth year is reportedly fully guaranteed. (CBS Sports)
Paul Pierce is officially staying in green-and-white, finalizing his four-year, $61 million contract with the Celtics Saturday night, a person with knowledge of the agreement told CBSSports.com.
Pierce had opted out of the final year of his contract, which would’ve paid him $21.5 million, in part to give the Celtics flexibility to retain free agent Ray Allen and make a run at another championship with coach Doc Rivers, who announced this week he was returning for the final year of his contract. Pierce, 32, accepted less than the maximum the Celtics could have paid him as a 10-plus-year veteran, which was $96 million over four years. But a person familiar with the situation said the fourth year was fully guaranteed, which had been a sticking point in the negotiations.
I love that Pierce is back in the fold. I don’t love that his fourth year is fully guaranteed, but it is what it is. As reader Frank A. put it:
We always complain that the NBA players only care about money…Then we get Paul Pierce who kept his word about wanting to be a Celtic for life and we have a problem with loyalty…You can’t have it both ways, give him the 4th year!!! Lets show him some loyalty back! Believe it or not, he could have got more money elsewhere..Think of Pierce in 2008 game 7 verse the Cavs, Think of him hoisting the MVP trophy of the 08 finals..The guy had a good team around him for only three years, and almost one two titles..Let the C’s be loyal here, I have no problem watching the Celtics go 30-52 in 4 years from now. Ya never know, maybe in 4 years we have a good team and Pierce comes off the bench and helps us!! I think PP has earned that 4th year.
Loyalty goes both ways. Thanks for putting that into perspective, Frank.
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Celtics Blog, Featured | Jay King | July 4, 2010
Thanks for the kind words Jay. I always want to root for guys that I like…I’m one of those guys that didn’t want the original big three broken up and I still believe that in 91 that team could have one a title. Bird was the same age as KG is now and was in his second year removed from ankle surgery. They were destroying teams out of the gate, I believe 29-5. Bird’s back went and the season ended. I think there was a book written about that team titled, “Unfinished Business.”
I love PP and the team around him, and I want to keep these guys and add to it. Lets make another run with PP and Co.
I rather beat Lebron, I enjoyed beating him in 08 and again this season. There’s something not right about a guy like Lebron coming to my team, it would feel like cheating. He should be loyal to Cleveland, they gave him a team that had the best record the last 2 seasons. Bailing and out to go form some all-star team doesn’t sit well with me. The way we put the big-three together was great. We gave up youth and a lottery pick. When we acquired Ray Allen, it seemed crazy until we got KG. We didn’t cheat the system, we didn’t buy a title.
KG seems so loyal to the Celtics ever since he has been here. Now I hope Ray is, and I’m sure he will stay. Although I wish I would hear it’s official. The longer it goes the more I get nervous.
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