Paul Pierce Claims He Will Retire If Clippers Win NBA Title

It's been quite the 17-year career for Paul Pierce. After 15 years with the Boston Celtics, which saw him win a championship in 2008, Pierce is preparing for his third consecutive season with a different team after signing a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers in June. 

He might not stay for the entirety of that contract, though, as J.A. Adande provided a quote from the veteran:

The future Hall of Famer's situation in Los Angeles looks pretty favorable compared to what it could have been a few months ago. 

After Pierce signed with the team, DeAndre Jordan, one of the most dominant centers in the game, looked set to join the Dallas Mavericks before having a change of heart and staying with the Clippers. The loss of Jordan alone could have spiraled the Clippers out of the Western Conference playoff race. 

Now he joins Pierce and big-time playmakers in Chris Paul and Blake Griffin on a team that won 56 games in 2014-15. Add in the likes of Lance Stephenson, Josh Smith, J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford and the Clippers look like a pretty formidable group on paper.

And while the team has won 56 or more games in each of the past three seasons, it now has a proven winner and veteran in Pierce who knows how to handle some big situations. 

At 37 years old, Pierce, like any player at that age, is not as spry as he once was, and Clippers head coach Doc Rivers realizes that. According to Grantland's Zach Lowe, he might be coming off the bench behind Wesley Johnson. 

Even if his role is limited, though, Pierce can always be called on to hit a big shot or give direction to the younger players on the roster. If Los Angeles finds that right combination and can figure out a way to advance deep into the playoffs, Pierce might not have to wait until his three-year contract is complete to retire. 

Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com