The NBA is never short on trade rumors, but since the lockout ended, chatter has been relentless. Its latest victim is the Boston Celtics’ Paul Pierce.
According to a report filed by Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, there are a number of contending teams that have inquired about Pierce’s availability. The small forward’s name has never broached the rumor mill before, and it’s likely that Boston’s lackluster start is the motivating factor behind any inquiries.
From Yahoo! Sports:
Several contending teams have inquired about Pierce’s availability. As one Eastern Conference official said, there are “lots of calls asking if [Boston] will blow it up.”
The Celtics are in a difficult situation. Their core is aging and the window of championship opportunity is closing. Or has it already closed?
The answer to that question is no. While Pierce and company have been struggling, the season is still young and there is plenty of time for Boston to get its act together. Keep in mind the extended offseason hurt the veteran teams the most, as it gave them less time to get their bodies acclimated to the rigors of competitive basketball. And the Celtics are as veteran a team as you are going to witness.
Look beneath the surface of Boston’s less than impressive record and you’ll see a now proven star in Rajon Rondo, as well as an ageless Ray Allen. Kevin Garnett is struggling on offense, but his presence is more than felt on defense, and Brandon Bass has been a pleasant surprise.
As constructed, does this Celtics team have a chance at snagging one last NBA title? That much is debatable. What’s for certain is that this organization is talented enough to make one last worthy run at a championship. Given that information, why would Boston deal its most clutch player?
They won’t. At 34, Pierce remains the Celtics’ most talented scorer. Allen can hit threes all day long and Rondo can navigate the court unlike any other, yet neither are anything without Pierce. His presence creates open looks for Allen, and his ability to move without the ball allows Rondo to rack up assists.
Few players in the entire NBA can create like Pierce, and even fewer can deliver in crunch time like he can. Factor in the reality that Boston will never get adequate value in return for their star, and you’re left with a plethora of reasons not to move him.
Boston is headed for a massive overhaul, but not until it has exhausted every other option with its current core. The championship window is closing fast, but the Celtics’ time as legitimate contenders isn’t up just yet.
And neither is Pierce’s tenure in Boston.
Dan Favale is an avid basketball analyst and firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His work can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
