NBA Rumors: Boston Celtics Would Be Wise to Deal Paul Pierce

The Boston Celtics need to rebuild, and it starts with making Paul Pierce available to the highest contending bidder.

The time has come, blame it on the lockout, blame it on Danny Ainge, but the run is over for this core of Celtics.

Teams in the NBA sense it as well, as Yahoo! Sports reports, contending teams have already started to call, to gauge Pierce's availability.

Of the Boston Three Party, Pierce's contract has the most years remaining (two), as Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are both free agents at the end of this season.

Moving Pierce for an expiring deal gives the Celtics the opportunity to possibly be rid of three of the biggest contracts on their underachieving team.

They must jump at that opportunity.

That would give them the freedom to go after Dwight Howard hard in the offseason, in hopes of being added to the big man's list of desirable locations.

Then, if need be, they could bring back Ray Allen and possibly Kevin Garnett at drastically slashed one- or two-year deals, while still being able to bring back a healthy Jeff Green.

Allen has indicated he badly wants to stay, and it is sensible to think Garnett would not be opposed to returning.

But it all starts with moving Pierce.

Without that move, the Celtics are still handcuffed by his large contract that sees him pull in $32 million dollars over the next two seasons, while his production steadily decreases.

In addition, they would be saddled by the presence of a player whose greatness within the organization handicaps the team from moving on.

Of the player's currently on the roster, he is the most accomplished in a Celtics uniform. He's the captain and primary scorer in the clutch. All of those things are a hold on a team.

The following lineup is a possibility for the Celtics in 2012-2013, if Allen and Garnett agree to slashed deals and Howard comes to Boston:

PG Rajon Rondo $11 Million

SG Ray Allen $8 Million

SF Jeff Green $8 Million

PF Kevin Garnett $10 Million

C Dwight Howard $17 Million

The Celtics have players like Avery Bradley, JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore under contract. Brandon Bass has a player option for next year, but it seems he would be a player inclined to return, especially considering this roster.

Obviously, the rest of the roster would be filled in with veteran's minimum contracts and a mid-level exception, but the core of this proposed lineup is less expensive than the current team.

Even without agreement from Howard, the Celtics would still be in position to pursue and sign the next best free agent on the market.

Not to mention, as hard as it may be to accept, this year's team may be headed for the lottery.

That means a relatively high draft pick in a deep draft. That equals an injection of youth and talent.

Pierce is the key, moving him gives the team the most options and the best future.