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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 12, 2006 3:07:04 GMT -5
If you step away from being a Celtics fan for just a second (I know, its almost impossible to do), and look at the whole Pierce situation from a couple of years ago till now, you may see a trend that's been developing, that's culminating and snowballing into a possible move sometime very soon.
Since the 2001 season, the time when he was the savior of the Celtics franchise, with his heroics in the playoffs against New Jersey (the 21 pt 4th quarter comeback--who can forget?), his stock has been on a slow decline. His scoring average increased, but his shooting% fell, and he began to play a lot of one on one offense. His attitude also started to grow thin at times, causing some fans to question his heart. Ater Walker left, he tried to take on the leadership role all by himself, and that didn't turn out so well. More and more Celtics fans began to bring up trade ideas involving Pierce over the years, and finally over the summer, we hear that he was close to going to Portland. But like most times, he comes right back and reassures the fans that he wants to be here and retire a Celtic, and will do his best to be the leader of this young team. And then, this week, we hear that he's up for a trade if it comes his way (and again, he reassures us that he wants to remain here soon after that).
He's having his best season of his career and his stock is probably as high as it has ever been. But his contract expires in 3 years and it remains to be seen if we'll be contenders by the time the 3 years end. If not, there's little chance that he'll stick around, choosing to finish up his career winning a title or two with some team who's already a champion, or very close to being one.
So, will he, or won't he, be traded at the Feb. 21st trading deadline?
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Post by BCHISTORIAN on Jan 12, 2006 3:17:22 GMT -5
i lean on saying no right now (voted also), mainly because danny won't find trade that would net us equal value in terms on young up and coming stars and draft picks while simultaneously getting rid of bad contracts. i just don't see anybody offering enough. btw draftpicks are as risky as ever for 2006 draft since it is probably one of the weakest since 1999
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 12, 2006 3:47:31 GMT -5
But keep in mind that Ainge is well aware that the future is where our best hopes for a championship lie, because that's where the cream of the crop in talent resides. Our future has a lot of key components; low post scoring (Jefferson), perimeter scoring (Gerald, Delonte), rebounding (Perk, Jefferson), defense (Perk, Allen), athleticism, energy, excitement, cohesion, and a lot more.
Ainge may be a stud defensive Center away (and maybe a big time PG, but its questionable because of how good Delonte may turn out) from constructing a contending team. Pierce may be the guy to get us that player, by either getting a high future draft pick or getting an already established player.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 12, 2006 8:18:15 GMT -5
I don't see Pierce going anywhere. Mainly because I don't think Danny can get equal value for him. I think right now he is concentrating on trying to trade Blount and/or Raef. We are paying big bucks for both of them with less than half the production that PP gives us. Maybe if he can ditch one of the Blount/Raef duo, then he would try to move PP... but I think that would come in the off season rather than now if he does. But then, with KG unhappy maybe he can work with his old buddy, Kevin and swap super stars. That would be getting equal value. Some of what he does with PP may have to do with how Green develops. Green is the wing of the future and if he comes on quickly and makes noise this year, then PP may be moved to make room for GG. So many variables that will affect this that it is hard to say, but I will go out on a limb and say he stays the rest of this season anyway.
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Post by esco33 on Jan 12, 2006 13:47:07 GMT -5
I agree with celtsfan. So far up to this point, I feel that Danny's intentions all along have been to build around Pierce with younger talent. I really do not feel he ever wanted to trade him. I think Danny just wanted for him to play the style that he set up with this team, and Pierce is definitely doing that. He is having his best season.
I would not be surprised if Danny made a move to trade some of the second tier young talent (Banks, Reed) along with some draft picks for a young but experienced player who can join Big Al, Gerald $, Delonte, Perk, as players to build around Pierce.
You never know with Ainge but I would not even expect him to get traded midseason anyway. If they really wanted to trade him, I think they would more likely do it in the offseason.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 12, 2006 17:22:59 GMT -5
Ainge may not get equal value for Pierce, but that may not be his objective. Pierce was almost traded to the Blazers for the rights to Chris Paul, Travis Outlaw and not much else. The deal would have been done if Pierce OK'd the trade to Portland.
He wasn't looking for a Garnett, a Shaq, a Duncan, or some other star player in return. He was willing to do it for a guy who could turn out to be a star PG in the future (though Chris Paul is looking like a star PG already).
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Post by esco33 on Jan 12, 2006 17:42:18 GMT -5
I agree. That's because Chris Paul is a special player.
Now, point guard may not be as high a priority with Delonte's recent play.
He has been playing like a top 10-15 point guard.
With Danny Ainge it is easier for me to just not speculate...because you just never know.
What does BC's signature say? - Never underestimate Ainge's unpredictability. This is true.
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Post by Roadrunner on Jan 12, 2006 23:19:30 GMT -5
P2 stays here. I don't see us bringing in an all-star, which is what P2 is worth. By the way, if I step away from being a Celtics fan, P2 is a cocky son of a b-tch, saying no one can guard him. Figuratively, and literally cost us the season. And fans wonder why Kansas never won the National title? How about getting to a Final 4 w/ Pierce, and LaFrentz?
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 13, 2006 2:15:04 GMT -5
Wow, RR, you become a totally different person when you stop being a Celtics fan. For our sake, may you forever bleed Celtics green ;D
Lets look at it in another light. Pierce is a star level player who is one of the league best scorers. But so far, that's gotten us nowhere. Now instead, in his place, what if we got players who had lesser talent than Pierce, but made us a better "team oriented" unit? Like Teyshaun Prince--he's not a guy who puts up big stats and will never ever equal Pierce, but he's such a key kog in the Piston's system because of how team oriented he is and how he's able to execute when his turn comes.
For me, if we can get a player in return who helps us to become a better team because of the change in our team play (more ball movement and less individual players scoring a lot of points), I would not be upset for losing Pierce.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 13, 2006 7:29:50 GMT -5
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 13, 2006 16:45:44 GMT -5
I get the feeling that if it wasn't for Wyc, Ainge may have already traded Pierce away. Wyc seems to be involved in what transpires, for good or bad.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 14, 2006 6:20:49 GMT -5
How many more excruciating losses before Pierce demands to be traded? I mean, we just barely missed out on beating the powerhouse Mavericks couple of nights, and the next day, he says he's up for a trade if that's what management wants.
We lose to the 76'ers in a majorly humiliating way, after being up by 16 pts in the second half, and losing the entire lead, and finally losing the game in the 3rd OT period, thanks to Blount not securing the ball and players just standing around him.
This loss must really hurt Pierce because of how we lost the game that we had in the bag. Its just a matter of time before we start hearing more from Pierce about wanting to play for a contending team instead of rotting away his best years on a team that has a hard time winning close games.
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Post by VI_CelticsFan on Jan 14, 2006 7:43:07 GMT -5
I think he will stay a celtic for the whole season. I would be fine with trading him if the right package came along (Like Hinrich, Deng, and a 1st rounder from the Bulls) then I would say goodbye to Paul. But, I'm pretty sure that Danny wants PP to stay in Boston. And no team will be offering the right package anyway.
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Post by Celtic17 on Jan 14, 2006 23:04:10 GMT -5
No.
Too early to jump-ship.
No vote.
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Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Jan 16, 2006 0:00:47 GMT -5
Ok Pierce has a 40% chance to be traded this year. That said, his contract could run out by the end of 07 which is one and a half seasons away. He will command an appeciable extension. The trouble is, the Celtics could be filling their cap space quickly and could have decisions due on younger players. A veterans contract of 10 million a year until 2010 would be palatable, otherwise, we have to move on to Tony Allen and Gerald Green. Ideally, I would love to trade Pierce for Yao Ming but Houston would never, ever consider that.
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