Causeway

Fact or Fiction that Pierce is becoming the main driver?

Pierce's patience running out

Plus May's article:

the Herald's:

Phoenix trip heats up Celts rumors

Ainge for 3

We are at an impasse. Only by overpaying to a ridiculous extent can we get Pierce the kind of player who will make him feel like the team is trying to achieve something meaningful to him in terms of wins (partially because few very good impact players want to come here), but it's questionable that acquiring such a player would get Pierce as close as he wants to that goal-- meaning he'd still be unhappy. Hell, Pierce has more to complain about than Kobe does (the Lakers are closer than we are to greatness) and Kobe feels totally fine about demanding a trade. There are a lot of young talented players we could get for Pierce (we could probably use Pierce in a deal to get Durant, even). We can't serve two masters. We need to decide that we're going to be the Baby Bulls and play our young talent (what we have in hand and what we get for Pierce) and just let the chips fall where they may-- win some and lose some. Pierce is totally right that his talent is being totally wasted here. It's irresponsible for the Cs to waste resources like it would be for any organization. Cedric Maxwell is right. It's time to show Pierce how much we love him and set him free (with apologies to Sting).

aquaitious

I love that rumor. Pierce has nothing better to do in his free summer time than to talk to "league executives" of how he'll leave the Celtics if a deal is not done by the end of the week.

Hilarious.

narrator

I think this should be a legitimate concern for Celtics and Celtics fans. Unless Ainge does something to significantly improve the team, Pierce will demand a trade. But at least he won't hold the team hostage like that ****** Carter. (Yes, I'm still bitter. )

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Ainge for 3

Why not? The Great Prophet Kobe Bryant showed the way. Athletes know for a fact that poisoning the well furthers their cause. Randy Moss didn't want to stay in Oakland so he did things in his power to force the Raiders to trade him for a 4th round pick.

#1AntoineWalkerFan

the ONLY surprising part about this is it took 5 years for pierce to demand the trade...he gave ainge plenty of time to do something with the franchise...i dont blame him one bit

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Causeway

It actually does not concern me. Trade for a solid vet, Pierce stays. If we keep the pick it actually would make sense to move Pierce. If the team is not going to make that decision, then let Pierce force their hand. Win/win.

DWest Superstar

Fine then trade Pierce to chicago get me Deng + Gordon, although Chicago would never do that

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ehmunro

The owners better pull the plug on the Ainge Error quickly. In four years he's reduced the Celtics to the laughingstock of the NBA. I'm so fed up I wish Pierce would demand a trade, because the ensuing 12 win season would be the end of Ainge & Doc, which is probably the only thing that can save this franchise.

The problem is that the Celtics aren't the "Baby Bulls". The Bulls had a collection of high lottery picks with the occasional mid first rounder and one second rounder. The Celtics are exactly the opposite. They're a collection of marginal draftpicks. The only lottery picks on the roster are Telfair, Pierce, & Szczuperstar. Just because a player is young doesn't mean he's good. The reason they aren't "maturing" is that they were never very good to begin with. The Celtics could tank the next three to five years in hopes of emulating the Bulls, but they'll need a better GM before doing it.

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Ainge for 3

Sorry for the confusion. That's basically what I was saying. The Cs need to decide right now what the hell they are doing and stick with it-- and the path of sucking fair and square with the talent you have and getting new talent in the draft due to sucking (the Baby Bulls model) is the path that has the greatest chance of leading to success ultimately. We need two marketable names to sell seats and we have one already who isn't going anywhere-- Big Al. No one can tell me that we can't turn Paul Pierce into a package that gives us another very marketable/very good player. Like I said, I bet the Sonics would seriously consider trading us Durant and some garbage contracts for Pierce. Ray Allen + Pierce + what you get from a sign and trade of Rashard Lewis is a very good team on paper. I was using Baby Bulls as shorthand for a model of how to run the team.

The only other method is to trade for guys that people think suck, but they really don't suck at all (like getting Billups and Diaw).

mrsister

As much as I hate to say it, I do think Pierce should go somewhere else if Ainge can't get anyone. Pierce has put up with so much since he's been here. He's been the consumate professional (with a few complaints here and there but nothing like some of these other superstars). The guy got stabbed here in Boston and came within an inch of dying, and he kept on playing. Ainge tore down the team player by player until Pierce was the only one left, including his buddies Walker, Williams, and Battie. He even got to see Walker leave twice. But he kept on playing. Now he watched his team tank the season for the number 1 or 2 picks, and they ended up with the 5th. And Ainge can't get anyone to play here. Enough is enough. Pierce needs to go where he's appreciated and has a good team around him. It doesn't have to be a championship team but at least one where he's not getting screwed left and right.

But if Pierce gets traded, I will likely not watch much of the Celtics for awhile because I'm pretty sure they won't get anyone near as good as Pierce in return.

Causeway

No way Seattle even considers this.

Ainge for 3

Why not, exactly? Ray Allen isn't getting any younger.