Paul Pierce Reportedly Will Be Traded to Brooklyn Nets by Boston Celtics

Paul Pierce, the face of the Boston Celtics over the past 15 years, has been reportedly traded in principle to the Brooklyn Nets, according to ESPN's Chris Broussard:

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports that Kris Joseph will also be added into the trade:

ESPN reports that the Nets will get Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry, while the Celtics will land Keith Bogans, Kris Joseph, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, and Gerald Wallace. 

The trade is expected to be considered official on July 10, according to Jim Mancari of SUNY Sports. 

While it must have been tough for Celtics GM Danny Ainge to pull the trigger on this deal, the second-leading scorer in franchise history was simply owed too much to stick around for the upcoming season and delay an inevitable rebuilding effort.

After longtime head coach Doc Rivers was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this week, the writing was on the wall and Pierce’s departure was imminent.

Boston had to cut ties with its captain before June 30, as that was the last day the veteran could be bought out for $5 million, as opposed to being paid the full $15.3 million he is owed for the 2013-14 campaign.

The superstar small forward, who raised a banner and won Finals MVP as a key member of the 2008 championship C’s, will likely finish out the last years of his prolific NBA career in Brooklyn.

Nicknamed The Truth by Shaquille O’Neal after a dominant performance against the Lakers in 2001, Pierce has been one of the most consistent players in the league since being drafted No. 10 overall out of Kansas back in 1998.

The 35-year-old holds career averages of 21.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Despite his advancing age, he’s remained a steady force in Beantown for much of his career and still has something left to give the Nets.

How much he can deliver remains to be seen, but the risk will certainly be worth the reward for Brooklyn if Pierce can help them contend for a championship in 2014.