Um yeah. It worked out to the tune of an NBA finals appearance. And imagine if Malone and Payton were 27 and wasn't playing on one leg or a hole in his glove.
Adding a gunner with a max contract and a worsening rep next to McGrady isn't the way I would go, personally. I don't think we need another All-Star to reach the next level. We need a Horce Grant/U Haslem type guy. Evan
PP may or may not be the answer (remember the proposition was that he has 'no value'/thus available 'cheap'?) but Grant/Haslem - type might be ok to add, but not difference maker.
Limp wrist thing was meaning that he shoots a lot. As for this 'no demand thing'....even though no team wants him, it doesn't mean Boston is going to give him up for garbage either. And how do you break it down to a volume shooter, who's been the franchise player for a team for 3-4 years now, that he's going to be the 3rd option?
If there isn't much interest out there for Paul Pierce, the Celtics are stuck with him. Period. The Celtics cannot trade a player of Pierce's talent without getting back value. Expiring contracts and draft picks? I don't know. Our draft picks would blow. Best to trade Pierce to Atlanta for their high draft pick. Then you free up about 10 million in cap space AND get a young talent in the draft. If Ainge were crazy, he might even use that cap space to help re-sign Antoine Walker (but I have my doubts; you don't build around Walker alone).
I'd like to hear that the Rockets at least are checking into this. Paul Pierce is one hell of a player. He's a cancer? I've never really heard about that. I just watch that guy dominate.
Xiki- Do you really think the Rockets have a chance at getting PP? You're talking about adding another superstar to this team that needs to take 18-20 shots a game and who has a max contract. And do you really believe that just because there is "no demand" for Pierce, they're gonna unload him for our crap. Trust me, there will be takers for PP and we won't be anywhere near the running for him.
The premise is simple -- if the C's want to move him and if, as reported in the Boston Globe, there is zero interest in him then I would want, I would hope that the Rox would look into getting him. Doable? I don't think so but -- I would hope CD'd try. Hard.
Do you think adding a guy like Pierce (with his max deal and attitude problems) is what we need? Pierce is a takes a lot of shots and I don't think we need a guy that is going to take a lot of shots away from Yao and TMac. Would he be our 3rd option? 2nd? I just don't like the idea of adding another max deal to the team in for a position player we really don't need.
What does it matter which option is Pierce, #2 or #3? It depends on what the defense will give us. The great thing about Pierce is that he doesn't always need to dominate the ball to be affective here. If the defense keys on Yao and T-Mac, Pierce can make them pay in many ways the likes of Sura or Wesley can never hope to do. As for it not being a position of need, I disagree. This team has only two set positions, center and one of the swing position. How can you think we're set at both SF and SG after the Dallas series?
It seems like I'd take a lot of players proposed right now, but I'd also take Paul pierce. With reservations. He's overpaid, but only slightly more so than I'd be willing to part with for a good third scoring option that can defend as well. I don't like his attitude, but then I didn't like Tmac's last year either.
It's sort of like saying adding a Marbury or Francis could only be a positive. They are star players but maybe not the right player for the team, especially w/ the money they are making. But I guess you're right-PP would make us unstoppable. But there is no way we make a deal for Pierce w/o giving up Yao or TMac.
What's with this obsession people have lately with picking random All-Star's coming off so-so seasons and assuming teams would give them away for our expiring contract garbage?????
