Paul Pierce Gamble Would Be Worth It for Hamstrung Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers badly need rotation help, and Paul Pierce might soon be in a position to provide some.
According to David Aldridge of NBA.com: "The Wizards could stand pat if Pierce decides to return to D.C. next season rather than opt out of his deal, but many around the league believe Pierce will do just that and finish his career back home in Los Angeles with the Clippers."
Pierce would have to turn down his $5.5 million option to get free from the Washington Wizards, which sounds like a significant sacrifice until you realize he's made almost $185 million in his career.
The bigger issue for Pierce may be a desire to continue playing anywhere.
Based on what he told reporters after the Wizards were eliminated, via Kurt Helin of NBCSports.com, retirement seems like a distinct possibility:
"Truthfully, what was going through my mind is, I don’t have too much of these efforts left, if any. These rides throughout the NBA season, throughout the playoffs, are very emotional. They take a lot out of not only your body, but your mind, your spirit…. I don’t even know if I’m going to play basketball anymore.
"
For what it's worth, J. Michael of CSN Washington reports talk of Pierce opting out would be news to the Wizards:
But let's say Pierce's itch to keep grinding returns as the summer wears on, and let's assume Aldridge and his sources are doing more than just riffing on the player-finishes-career-with-hometown-team trope.
Pierce was undeniably valuable in Washington, particularly as a leader who infused confidence into a roster that needed it. It also didn't hurt that he buried tons of huge shots to propel Washington deep into the playoffs.
The Clippers need a steadying veteran influence to balance out the manic intensity flowing from Chris Paul. And if that veteran can hit a shot or two, all the better.
Pierce could help reinforce trust in Doc Rivers' plan. He's been to the end of the road with Rivers. He's played a huge role on a championship team, and he can relay the lessons he learned with his head coach in ways bit players like Glen Davis can't.
The Clippers were far closer to a title this year than it seems. If not for an anomalous quarter from the Houston Rockets, L.A. wins its conference semifinal series in six games, gets a couple of days' rest and takes on the Warriors in the penultimate playoff round.
It's not like the Clips need a massive overhaul to take another step forward. If Pierce could alleviate some of the team's tightness with his bravado, if his confidence could lubricate a team that ground its gears down the stretch of some close games, that might be all it takes.
That stuff aside, Pierce would also represent an upgrade to the Clippers' perimeter rotation. That's not saying much, as no Los Angeles wing provided even replacement-level help off the bench.
Pierce's player efficiency rating of 15.2 was a career low, but it would have topped starter Matt Barnes' ugly 2014-15 figure of 11.3 by plenty.
It's not like the Clippers are flush with better options.
Aside from the mini mid-level exception, the only free-agency tools they have are minimum contracts. You're not attracting big names with those—certainly none bigger than Pierce's.
The Clips' lack of depth destroyed them in the postseason, and they need to find reliable, big-minute rotation players in free agency. The best-case version of Pierce, which is basically what the Wizards got this year, would be immensely helpful.
But if age takes Pierce down another peg, or he misses time, he might not be the best option.
Another point of concern: Pierce gave the Wizards the biggest boost by playing as a stretch 4 during the playoffs. It's hard to imagine how he'd carve out a role there without cutting into Blake Griffin's minutes—unless the Clips got crazy with some ultra-small Griffin-at-center lineups, which, now that I think about it, we should all be petitioning to see.
It's a challenge to get past the idea of doubling down on Rivers' plan to construct a roster with players who were at their best in 2008, but Pierce isn't Davis or Hedo Turkoglu. He's got something left.
The biggest challenge in all of this isn't selling the idea of Pierce to the Clippers, though. It's the other way around.
Pierce has to know the road to the Finals is far easier in the East, and even though the Clippers are the objectively better team, Washington might have a better chance of advancing further. The allure of returning home and reuniting with Rivers will be strong, but if Pierce wants to win big in the twilight of his career, the odds favor staying in Washington.
Rivers might have to put on the hard sell, and the Clippers may have to make another move or two to convince Pierce they're the most title-worthy of his suitors.
The Clippers are short on options, and if there's a legitimate difference-maker out there who'll sign on for less than market value—risks and all—they should be falling all over themselves to close a deal.
Pierce hasn't opted out yet. But if he does, L.A. has every reason to put in a call.
Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.
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