THe Rockets let Parsons ($15M) go for Ariza ($8M) to save money. The Wizards let Ariza ($8M) go for Pierce ($5M) to save money. ... Should we have let Parsons ($15M) go for Pierce ($5M) in the end?
No. Paul Pierce had a pretty good game yesterday against the Rockets, but don't let that cloud your judgment. Ariza is the much, much better defender. Also, I think Ariza was an Unrestricted Free Agent. The Wizards didn't have a chance to match the contract that he signed with the Rockets.
Just a summary of this season's stats for both players: Trevor Ariza: 38 MPG 36% FG% 33% 3PT% 82% FT% 6 RBS 2 AST 1.7 ST PER: 11.1 Paul Pierce: 27 MPG 45% FG% 36% 3PT% 79% FT% 5 RBS 2 AST .7 ST PER: 17.15
At this late stage of his career, Pierce is a stop gap solution. Remember Aretest's first year in LA? That deal looked like a steal for the Lakers. By the end of that contract, his skills had deteriorated to the point that his contract was a little bit of a boat anchor on the team's cap.
Ariza will be a defensive cornerstone for us for several years. Pierce is nice, but Ariza better fit here imo.
Pierce: OWS 1.7 DWS 1.1 TWS 2.8 WS/48 .170 OBPM 1.9 DBPM 0.4 BPM 2.3 VORP 2.3 Ariza: OWS 0.5 DWS 1.8 TWS 2.3 WS/48 .097 OBPM -0.5 DBPM 1.3 BPM 0.7 VORP 2.1 Pierce is posting overall better metrics this year but over the life of a 4 year contract, Ariza will probably still be effective defensively and hopefully he will re-discover his shot if/when his minutes go down and the post-passing improves. If you had to pick on this season? You'd probably pick up Pierce based on his two-way metrics, but his defense doesn't really pass the eye test.
This is actually a great question and definitely not knee jerk. Pierce's DRPM is 2.04. He still plays above average defensive but to answer your question I think in the short term Pierce is better but in the long term and especially if we get Dragic, Ariza is better.
Agreed for any short stretch, especially a playoff game I go with Paul Pierce for sure. Keep in mind though we are comparing a Hall of Famer, although later in his career to a player who has worked hard to be a respectable role player.
Obviously Ariza is needed for his defense, but it would be awesome to have another guy who can create his own shot. I would have definitely been happy with Pierce.
[rQUOTEr]“At the end of the day, we have Paul Pierce,” center Marcin Gortat said recently. “Trevor Ariza, Paul Pierce. There’s a difference, a huge difference. Defensively, if they’re not the same, [Pierce] might be a little weaker defender, but offensively he makes up three times for Trevor Ariza. He can handle the ball, you can throw him the ball in iso[lation], he can shoot the ball, he can pass, he can play pick and roll, he can post up. You’re talking about one of the greatest guys in the league. You can’t compare those two.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2014/12/29/wizards-have-successfully-replaced-trevor-ariza/?postshare=3141419884930095 [/rQUOTEr]
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