The "real" reason Pierce is on the outs with the Boston public is that him and Walker were caught spooning after the playoff game. More like a flame-on than a flameout. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Pierce to me seems more like a complementary player than a front line guy. That is what he did better with Walker around. I think with McGrady and Yao around, the pressure would be off of Pierce and he could just play his well rounded, Scottie Pippen type game, which would be perfect for this team IMO. Obviously, we would still need an upgrade at PG and PF, but I really like the idea of bringing Pierce in, even more than bringing Kidd in back when that was talked.
BuckeyeRocketFan -Are you high? Pierce as a "complimentary" players. He's been one of the top Eastern Conference performers since he entered the league in 1998!! From NBA.com: YEAR TEAM G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG 98-99 BOS 48 47 34.0 .439 .412 .713 2.40 4.00 6.40 2.4 1.71 1.04 2.8 2.90 99-00 BOS 73 72 35.4 .442 .343 .798 1.10 4.30 5.40 3.0 2.08 .85 2.44 19.5 00-01 BOS 82 82 38.0 .454 .383 .745 1.10 5.20 6.40 3.1 1.68 .84 3.20 25.3 01-02 BOS 82 82 40.3 .442 .404 .809 1.00 5.90 6.90 3.2 1.88 1.05 2.94 26.1 02-03 BOS 79 79 39.2 .416 .302 .802 1.30 6.00 7.30 4.4 1.76 .78 3.65 25.9 03-04 BOS 80 80 38.7 .402 .299 .819 .90 5.70 6.50 5.1 1.64 .65 3.79 23.0 04-05 BOS 82 82 36.1 .455 .370 .822 1.00 5.60 6.60 4.2 1.62 .48 2.80 21.6 Career G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG 526 524 37.6 .435 .358 .794 1.20 5.30 6.50 3.7 1.77 .80 3.07 23.0 Tallied 2,071 points in 2000-2001, becoming the first Celtic to clear the 2000 point mark since Larry Bird completed the feat in 1988 Ranked eighth in NBA in points per game (25.3) in 2000-2001 Became the first Celtics player to win the NBA's Player of the Month Award in 15 years in March 2001 On 3/26, became the first Celtics player to win the NBA's Player of the Week award since Reggie Lewis in 1992 Ranked second in the NBA in steals per game (2.08) in 1999-2000 Participated in the Schick Rookie Challenge during the 2000 NBA All-Star Weekend A unanimous selection to the 1998-99 Schick All-Rookie First Team after leading the Celtics in three-pointers made (84, 10th in the NBA) and attempted (204, 18th), three-point percentage (.412, 10th) and steals (1.71 spg, 19th) Ranked second among rookies in scoring (16.5 ppg), three-pointers made and attempted, three-point percentage, rebounds (6.4 rpg) and steals, fourth in blocked shots (1.04 bpg), fifth in assists (2.4 apg), sixth in double-doubles (3) and 10th in field-goal percentage (.439) Named Rookie of the Month for February 1999, leading the NBA with 2.73 spg, leading all rookies with 20.4 ppg and adding 7.1 rpg, 2.4 apg and 1.45 bpg Made his NBA debut, totaling 19 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocked shots, against the Toronto Raptors on 2/5/99 Named First Team All-America by the AP after his junior season at Kansas in 1997-98 and was Honorable Mention All-America after his sophomore season Named MVP of the Big 12 Conference Tournament in both 1996-97 and 1997-98 Shared Big Eight co-Freshman of the Year honors in 1995-96: Signed a multi-year contract extension on 08/01/01...Scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 23 minutes at the 2002 NBA All-Star Game (2/10), his first All-Star appearance...Named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week twice (12/2 & 4/7)...Named Eastern Conference Co-Player of the Month twice, once in April and once with teammate Antoine Walker for December...Only Celtic to start and appear in all 82 games, led team in most offensive categories, posting averages of 26.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.88 steals...First Celtic in team history to finish as the league leader in total points scored (2144)...Led the team in scoring 52 times, in rebounds 16 times and in assists 12 times...Had 67 20+ point games and 33 30+ point games...Had one 40+ point game and 38 7+ rebound games...Had 24 5+ assist games and 23 3+ steal games...Had six 5+ steal games...Had seven 3+ block games...Had a career-high 17 double-doubles this season...Logged 20 points and logged season-highs in assists (8) and steals (7) versus New York (4/12)...Logged a career-high five blocks versus Cleveland (12/19)...Scored a career-high 48 points on a career-high 34 field goal attempts (a season-high 17 points from the line) at New Jersey (12/1)...Connected on a career-high eight three pointers versus Seattle (11/9)...PLAYOFFS: Led the team in scoring in three rounds of the postseason...Averaged 30.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.8 steals in the five game series against Philadelphia...Was among the NBA league leaders in postseason scoring (394, 3rd), 3-pointers made (30, 3rd), total assists (66, 9th), double-double’s (7, 5th) and steals (27, 6th)...Averaged 24.6 ppg, including a 46-point performance in a decisive Game 5 victory against Philadelphia...Logged 137 rebounds and 66 assists in 16 playoff games and tallied a team playoff-high of 17 rebounds in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals versus Detroit...Sparked the Celtics amazing comeback in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against New Jersey, scoring 21 of his game-high 28 points in the second half, 19 of which came in the fourth quarter. This guy is an absolute stud!! I was hoping the Rox would trade up to draft him back in 1998, but unfortunately, we wound up with Michael Dickerson at number 14, and Pierce went to the Celtics at 10. We did also wind up doing a trade involving the eventual number 2 in that year's draft (Steve Francis), which Dickerson was part of, and which eventually became the T-Mac deal, so, what if now, 6+ years later, we wind up with T-Mac and Pierce??? This team, with Yao and a decent PF would be unstoppable on the offensive and defensive ends of the court. We'd go from 1st round challengers, to Western Conf. Favorites!!
Pierce has really turned off a lot of Boston fans w/ his antics in the playoffs. I think Ainge will try to move Pierce but won't try to force anything (ala the VC trade). The last thing they want to do is get back crap for an All-Star player. As far as the Rockets are concerned, of course we should try, but there is no way of us getting Pierce w/o giving up Yao or TMac, period. Portland seems to have the best offer for him. NVE + #3 is a great deal for Boston, they get an instant $13M off the books if they decline NVE's option (which they would) and get a really high pick. Marvin Williams could still be there, Green will be there, D. Williams. The Clippers should also be in the mix. Pierce is a hometown guy and the Clips would instantly be a better team. Maggette/Wilcox/#12 for Pierce/#19?
I think you misunderstood. I view Pierce as a "complementary player" the way I viewed Scottie Pippen as a "complementary player" to Michael Jordan. Still a superstar in his own right, but a guy who will get his numbers in the flow of the game throughout the game, but a guy also willing to let someone else take the last shot or put up the 30-40 pts a game. I view Yao the same way. McGrady on the other hand feels like a guy that would put the dagger in your heart, take the last shot, take 50 shots a game if that was what needed to be done to win. I feel McGrady has that never say die edge that the great ones like Jordan, Iverson and others have. All gut feel from watching them play, no basis in fact at all.
From a talent perspective, the trade you propose between Boston and the Clippers is solid. Maggette has become pretty good; he isn't much of a box-office draw, maybe, and that's something Boston has to consider. Pierce would certainly enjoy returning to the West Coast. He and Brand and their running mates would compete pretty well, even in the Western Conference. Maggette/Wilcox/#12 to Portland; #3/NVE to Boston; Pierce/#19 to LAC might also be OK. Goodness gracious, great balls of fire. Here we go with the trade speculation again (or should I just say, "here I go," and take personal responsibility for my part in it?) Must be summertime again.
I just think its preposterous to assume one of the perennial, most proflific scorers in the Eastern Conference would embrace a trade that would leave him as our 3rd option along with a drastic decline in his numbers. Sure, if he wants to win thats ONE way to go about it, but after whats happened with the VC and Baron Davis trades, I don't see even Ainge the Idiot being foolish and agreeing to anything like we are proposing on here.
I'd take Pierce also. Having Pierce on our team would give our team cofidence and swagger. McGrady knowing he'll have Yao and Paul by his side will only make him better, and Paul knowing he'll finally have a big man to play with... will only make him better. McGrady and Pierce both knowing what they are capable of and are on the same team... will only give them a swagger that will make them a unstoppable duo. McGrady/Ming/Pierce = Finals (guarantee)
