Will Paul Pierce Come Back to Boston?

[cardiacs]

 
Paul Pierce wouldn’t mind rejoining the Celtics.
“Yeah, why not? Maybe play for them, maybe work for them,” the forward said Friday after the Nets lost to his former team, 91-84, at TD Garden.
Pierce played 15 seasons with the Celtics, who drafted him in 1998. His contract expires after this season and he’ll be an unrestricted free agent.
He received a warm ovation from the crowd and finished with 10 points in 33 minutes, though emotions weren’t as high as in late January, when he returned to the Garden for the first time since he and Kevin Garnett were traded.
“It’s always emotional when you step into a gym you’ve spent your whole life playing in,” Pierce said. “The tribute last time made it so much more emotional and the cheers. But every time I come into this gym, because I’m always seeing friends and people who have been around all the years, it’s always going to be emotional, because you miss them from knowing them so long.”

 
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/03/08/celtics-vitor-faverani-has-season-ending-surgery/FegcRMfs3N0IeaqYMQYZqI/story.html
 
 
I think this is threadworthy. Of course it would be a windfall for the Celtics and Ainge would look like a hero, but is it in the best interests of the Celtics to accept him back?. Of course the huge caveat is no one knows what the makeup of next year's team will actually be.  My feeling is I would be happy to have him back if the price is right and he is OK with coming off the bench. 

 

[Blacken]

I am comfortable being irrational about Paul Pierce. I don't want them to give him all the money, but yeah, if he wants to come back--they're not going to be competing next year, I'd rather have him around.

 

[Brickowski]

I'd rather have him around in a front office capacity or as an assistant coach, not as a player. 

 

[Devizier]

Pierce is still a good player. If the Celtics assemble something resembling a decent team next year -- I'm not holding my breath -- I could dig it.

 

[Nick Kaufman]

He ll be 37 this October. I doubt he's ll have starter quality next year.

Having said that. The Celts might not be ready to give money to good players yet, so a 1-2 year contract to Pierce is far better than overpaying for a mediocrity for longer years. Plus it has the obvious benefit of rewarding a player who played his career with the team.

 

[taoofoj]

If Pierce was to come back, he's doing so eyes open.  Cs are clearly in rebuilding mode and barring a miracle they won't be contending again until after he retires.  He'd be coming back really just to retire a Celtic which would be pretty damn cool.

He'd be a great presence for a young Celtics team and would help sell some tickets next year.

If Pierce were to sign a reasonable 1-2 year contract it would be tempting for Danny to trade him at the deadline.  He would be a nice chip for the Cs to have but if Pierce comes back primarily to retire a Celtic I would not want to see Danny trade him again.

 

[Blacken]

If Pierce were to sign a reasonable 1-2 year contract it would be tempting for Danny to trade him at the deadline.  He would be a nice chip for the Cs to have but if Pierce comes back primarily to retire a Celtic I would not want to see Danny trade him again.

Well, they could sign him again. :buddy:

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

I have been beating this irrational drum for the past nine months.  Let him finish his playing days helping to rebuild the next contender both on the floor and then from the bench.   I'd rather see them spend money on him than a Bogans or a Wallace or Horrid Bayless.

 

[Reardon's Beard]

Bring him back as a veteran player, but really an unofficial assistant coach, and then transition to coach.
 
What's not to love?

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

 and then transition to coach.
 
What's not to love?

Um, we don't have Durant, Lebron, or Kobe, so not a fan of the ISO.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Doc is already implementing Pierce into the Clippers plans for next year. He's not coming back here to lose 50 games when he can return home to his old coach and compete for a championship.

Pierce was responding to a question from a reporter prior to playing in Boston.....what do you expect him to say?

 

[Cellar-Door]

I'd love to have Pierce back in a non-playing capacity (or on a 10 day so he can retire in Green) the problem is you can't rebuild then bring back a guy who was the star and face of the franchise in a bench role, it will be a mess, Stars never age gracefully, and Pierce for all he may think it, isn't going to easily be the 6th option on a team he was the 1st option on. Especially behind young guys, who aren't established.