NBA Rumors: Celtics Would Be Wise to Move Paul Pierce Before It's Too Late

Paul Pierce is a franchise player who has given Boston Celtics fans a lifetime of wonderful memories. He is far more valuable at the moment as a pivotal chip to get this storied franchise to the next stage in their history. 

No player is bigger than the franchise, and with that we conclude that Paul Pierce can right a sinking ship by leaving Point A and landing in Point B. The only thing Celtics fans should worry about is how Point A fares in the future, because the present is just awful. 

John Carroll of ESPN surmises that the time is ripe to send Pierce packing for youth and a great deal more flexibility heading into the offseason. At 7-9 and with a sluggish defense, it's not the time to put hope in the present cast to take the Celtics to the finals. 

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Pierce now seems fully recovered from a heel injury that has hampered him in the early part of the season. However, Pierce's return to form belies the fact that his team is in rapid decline...If Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge wants to begin the rebuilding process in earnest, he should start with trading Pierce and getting good value in return. 

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Carroll bandies about five trades that would make sense for the Celtics. Among them, he has Pierce going to the Hawks for Josh Smith, to the Grizzlies for Rudy Gay, to the Pacers for Danny Granger and to the Rockets for Kevin Martin and Patrick Patterson/Jordan Hill. 

The one trade I love is Pierce to the Jazz for Paul Millsap and Enes Kanter. The Celtics would be letting go of one gritty star for a player in Millsap who has emerged as a potential star. You can't ignore that Millsap is a work horse that will only get better in the next couple of seasons. 

The moment to send Pierce packing is all the more pressing when you consider Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen will be free agents, freeing up Boston to really get creative on the open market. 

Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe rumors the Celtics are watching the latest on Kevin Love. Ainge would be keen on offering a huge contract to the star forward if the Timberwolves fail to lock him up. 

Pierce may be healthy, but for how long? He may be at the greatest value and would give the Celtics a great start as they head into the offseason and some potential stars floating around on the free market. 

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