Danny Ainge reportedly “prepared to entertain” Paul Pierce trade offers
During the year Paul Pierce first entered the NBA with the Boston Celtics (1998), I:
- started using deodorant for the first time
- forgot to wear deodorant one day, but intelligently blamed it on the kid sitting next to me in social studies
- accidentally murdered three tamagotchi eggs
- thought instant messaging girls made me the coolest kid ever (but was too nervous to speak to those same girls in person)
- watched somebody named Garnett compete for the Celtics (first name: Marlon)
- loved Kenny Anderson as Boston’s point guard
Sadly, I’m not kidding about loving Kenny Anderson.
The point is that Pierce has been in Boston forever and a day. But the Celtics are reportedly “prepared to entertain offers” for the Truth. (CBS Sports)
The Celtics are prepared to entertain offers for Paul Pierce, whose subtraction from the Boston core would be the most advantageous to the post-Big Three rebuilding effort given his age (34) and the $32 million he’s owed over the next two seasons. And for those same reasons, he’ll be the most difficult of Boston’s top four players to move. The Clippers, indeed, have interest in Ray Allen, but little in the way of movable salary to make a deal work. Rival executives believe Celtics president Danny Ainge would have to be blown away by an offer to move point guard Rajon Rondo.
I’ll be very surprised if Ainge moves Pierce. Not because I think Ainge gives a rat’s posterior about loyalty, but because it will be difficult to find a trade that makes sense.
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Celtics Blog | Jay King | March 8, 2012
If Ainge moves Pierce, I’ll lose all respect for him. Say what you will about Pierce’s game, his commitment, and the shortcomings he’s has throughout his career, but he’s one of my favorite players of all time. That’s unquestionable. Ubuntu will be dead for years to come and we will doom any thoughts of relevancy for years. Same goes for Rondo and KG. the way KG came in and changed the culture of this franchise is unprecedented. He is the reason we successfully complete the greatest single-season turnaround in NBA history. RA is the best 3-point shooter EVER. Better than Bird, Miller, all of them. NO TRADES!
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At this point I’m willing to trade any of the Big Three or Doc. I care a lot about loyalty, but these buttheads can’t seem to get their minds out of the 2008 timewarp. At some point, it becomes their fault. If they aren’t willing to recognize that it’s 2012 and their roles have to change, and the youngones need to get more room to spread their wings, then maybe they are asking to be traded.
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I think this is pretty un-newsworthy. Obviously they’ll entertain offers, it’s the same thing Ainge said 6 weeks ago. http://www.lucidsportsfan.com/2012_01_15_archive.html#435971512307181019
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There is no reason to even entertain offers for core players.
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Who they gone get for Pierce nobody at all unless New York complain on Carmelo Anthony they can trade Pierce until then he`s a Celtic.
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Best thing Doc has said recently…
“When you look at Miami, you say ‘Whoa, they’re an amazing basketball team.’ Are they beatable? We’ll find out when the playoffs start.”
Ergo, my contention that the Cs are coasting and are the light-switch flippin’ bunch we all love. They’ll play hard Sunday on national TV and when the playoffs come but it so sad that they need those things as motivation to show up and give effort every night. No trades, maybe a pick-up. Go Cs…
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What?! James is using the word “good” and “Doc” in the same sentence?! Where is the Guiness Book of World Record when you need it??? But good point, these guys are light-flipping elites. Just hope that the lights shine as bright as we know they can. Mark Cuban made a good prediction just before Xmas. He said that the regular season, particularly the first half, will be dominated by young teams with young legs, and the second half of the season and especially the playoffs will be dominate by the vets. Namely the Mavs, Spurs, and C’s. Don’t put too much stock in an even more meaningless than usual regular season folks.
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You can’t just flip a switch like that. Folks forget that Rondo had a lot to do with the 2010 miracle. Also, it’s the exception, not the rule, not even the new rule. You can’t play crappy all season and then pull out a miracle from your rat’s derriere at the last minute. Not often.
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Never said I hated Doc. Just don’t care for his coaching style and certainly don’t feel he is an ‘elite’ or great coach. We’re stuck with him. I would have kept Thibodeau if I had been in mgmt. or I’d have hired a former Celtic (like DJ but unfortunately he’s playing in a heavenly league). If Doc ever starts talking about rebounding and focusing on the need to win that stat every night then I’ll acknowledge that, too. But I’m not holding my breath. Go Cs…
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Could have fooled me with some of your comments. I believe in this team. At least we agree on that. I believe in Doc as well, as we’ve enjoyed a lot of success under his system. But can you at least agree with me that the regular season, especially a truncated one in which we seem to have more games than days, isn’t a purely accurate judgement of what we can do? Say we face Chicago. We’d have so much more time to focus our game on each individual matchup and exploit weaknesses. Doc isn’t stupid. He knows rebounding is an issue and he will address it. We have some talented guys that CAN rebound if committed. Let’s see how we “rebound” tomorrow.
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As I advised paul previously…best not to read into my comments. Yes, I have issues with Doc, but I have never said I hate him. I am resigned to his being around 4+ more years. Am I happy about that? No, not at the moment, but that doesn’t mean he can’t ‘up’ his game, too. As I’ve posted previously, I have only heard Doc speak about rebounding once this season. As far as the regular season there’s an old saying ‘how you practice, is how you play the game’. I like 80% of our game now, but it’s that 20% that is keeping us a borderline .500 team and frustrating us all. Sure, we’ll turn it on come the playoffs and have extra days off, but I’d rather see EM, JJ and GS get time because the regulars are winning games handily. Just my preference. Doc’s ‘system’ is over-valued based on the fact he has 4 HOFs now and I would argue it’s worse since Thibs left and Clifford Ray was let go (bigs coach). We’ll see how it works out, but I prefer they show up and give max effort every night, as they are paid extremely well to do so. Go Cs…
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I agree on all points. And at least they aren’t grossly overpaid like baseball players.
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Doc’s head is stuck in a 2008 timewarp. It’s really that simple. Of course I don’t mean that he literally thinks that it’s 2008. But on some level, he’s still trying to hold onto that, to what the team was back then, because it meant so much to him. Changes need to happen, but he refuses to acknowledge them
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Greg, Doc has had YEARS to address rebounding, and we’ve gotten steadily worse. He may not be stupid, but he is blind to his own limitations, which is worse.
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I think Doc hates Bigs.
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Yeah, years to address it. Doc’s words after the 2010 finals loss, quote:At the end of the day, rebounding won the series, endquote. It kinda makes you wonder how a PG like Rondo grabs 17 rebounds in a game. I’m not saying it’s not good, just a point that those are 17 rebounds the Boston bigs aren’t getting. Should they trade any of the big four? I would say no, not any of them. Maybe if it was an offer too good to refuse but for me there are no greater players in the league than our ALLSTAR 4. I know there are guys who put up better no’s but this core and our long lost brother Kendrick Perkins made Boston relevant in a new era and that will never be forgotten. I still believe in this team and that they can once again be champions. To pick up another marquee player would be great. One piece would solve our rebounding problem. Dwight Howard. That man is a beast. I hope DA makes a bid for him if he is on the market.
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