Pierce Is Not Happy

Feb 15 - Paul Pierce spoke candidly about being on a lottery-bound outfit at this point in his career.

"Definitely, I'm frustrated," Pierce said. "I never thought in my ninth year I'd be playing on a team with the worst record in the NBA at this point in the season. It's tough for us to even talk playoffs right now because of the situation we're in. So definitely the frustration is up."

Pierce reiterated his desire that if the Celtics end up with one of the top two picks, they trade it for veteran help.

"I'm in my ninth year. How much longer do I got to play?" said Pierce. "You get another project in here. We got, I think, plenty of those, a guy who is going to be in four or five years. I'm going to be ready for retirement by then."

Well this is the second time Pierce has publicly voiced his frustration with the team, and his want for the team to trade the pick. I can't blame Pierce for wanting to win now, but its going to take alot more help then just one veteran to make this team a championship contender. And I don't think its going to take 4 or 5 years for Oden or Durant to start contributing but if we don't have a top 2 pick I tend to agree with Pierce in thinking that we should shop it around and try to get another all-star.

I think the team might consider shopping Pierce around as well...Like you said, one veteran probably won't push us over the top, but if they get a good draft pick and trade Pierce for some other good young guys they'd be a major project team, but possibly have a bright future.

Present vs the future, this is a tough one. I want to keep Pierce, I do, but if he isn't on board and he doesn't like the idea of getting an Oden or Durant, maybe we do need to part ways.

Until Pierce comes out and says "I want to be traded", Celtis won't trade him. He is the franchise. I also can't blame him for being frustrated. But on the other hand, what exactly did he expect when he signed an extension? He knew what Ainge's plans were and he accepted them. But Ainge has to show that he is committed to making this team a contender not in 5+ years but right now and years to come. He needs to go out and some good vets that can help this team contend.

But I don't want to give up a large amount of youth to do so.

Well it was only 4 years ago that Pierce was complaining to the media about management and saying how if things don't soon change that he would demand a trade. Okay so Pierce has obviously matured and wants to be here otherwise he wouldn't have signed a contract extension, and he's said time and time again that he wants to retire as a Celtic, but it definitley showed me that he is the type of guy who will demand a trade if he feels thats whats best.

As much as Pierce is the face of this franchise I wouldn't be against the idea of Danny shopping him around. It was only a few months ago that Pierce was rumored to be going to Golden State, and Chicago has also voiced interest in trading for Pierce. No doubt that there would be half a dozen teams or more that would be interested in trading for Paul Pierce.

I understand Pierce's frustration. Danny Ainge has said that Pierce deserves to be on a competetive team, yet Danny hasn't done much to put Pierce in that situation. He's an all-star surrounded by young kids and role players and if he stays here with the Celtics the chances of him winning a championship are slim.

The Celtics have decided to build through the draft and commit to youth so we have to keep the long-term in mind, and with this draft coming up and the amount of talent and potential at the top of the draft, trading a lottery pick is not a good idea for the long term. Id rather see Pierce traded instead of seeing the Celtics pass on the opportunity to draft Durant or Oden. With Pierce gone it would give a guy like Gerald Green or Durant or Oden (If We Got One Of Them) the chance to emerge as a franchise player and all-star.

Best case scenario is that Paul realizes that keeping the pick is whats best for the team and that even with another all-star to play beside him they're not going to be winning any championships.

I got on the ESPN trade maker and used guys who were rumored to be traded and the only trade where the numbers worked that made any sense from the Celtics stand point was:

Boston Gets
Ben Gordon
P.J Brown
Malik Allen

Chicago Gets
Paul Pierce
2nd Round Pick

Allen and Brown are both expiring contract so we would make up some of the money in the offseason as well as the money we'd get back from Theo Ratliffs massive contract would give us 25+ million to spend in the offseason in free agency.

Interesting Mike, I actually like that trade, especially with the cap space it would leave us. Gordon also adds a solid young guy to the team. He's no rookie, well established, but quite young at the same time.

Let's hope that Danny doesn't give up Oden or Durant just because Pierce says he may want to be traded if we get another draft pick. We should be able to get some good value for Pierce if that is the case. I like that Chicago trade but not sure that they would do it.

They might, if they're still as eager as they were before to trade Gordon.

They seemed pretty eager to trade Gordon, and we know they want to move Brown so I think the trade would have a chance of going through.

Pierce is miscalculating how soon an Oden or Durant would be able to contribute. These aren't high school guys that take forever to develop. These guys are both players who would have been more like Dwight Howard if they had been able to come in right away, but with the year of college, they'll both be ready to be starters and play at a high level immediately.

These two aren't run-of-the-mill guys.

I agree with you on that one nepg. These are definitely two guys that you can expect to come in and contribute quickly.

Buck up Paul! Too many veterans complain about management and stuff. I dont want to see PPierce go the way of Iverson, Payton and others who just couldn't keep their mouth shut and PLAY.