Celtics Haven’t Made Decision Regarding Paul Pierce

Not that you would. That would be stupid. And disrespectful. Still, just consider this a friendly public-service announcement: Danny Ainge and the Celtics haven’t yet made a decision on Pierce’s future.

I know, I’m throwing you for a whirl. It seems like just seconds ago I was telling you they were likely to buy him out. That’s because I was. Well, not me per se. I was just relaying what we all knew was going to be misperceived information.

Anyway, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com, the Celtics haven’t decided to part ways with Pierce, though his future with the team is still up in the air:

Danny Ainge can only chuckle when asked about the latest round of rumors involving the Celtics, who are reportedly “likely” to buy out Paul Pierce’s contract for $5 million.

“Nothing surprises me,” Ainge told CSNNE.com. “I’ll just let speculation continue.”

…

“What’s important to understand, yeah, it’s going to be hard for fans and everybody else, but as far as what’s doing what’s best for the Celtics, it’s probably going to be very hard, too,” Ainge told CSNNE.com. “It’s not a no-brainer. It’s not like you get a 21-year-old All-Star player, or you get the number one pick in the draft [if you let Pierce go]. Those decisions would not be hard, but I have a feeling the decision is going to be very hard, yeah.”

Pierce is owed approximately $15.3 million next season, but Boston can buy him out for roughly $5 million. Paying him to leave would save the Celtics $10 million in salary next season alone, hence the only reason why it’s an avenue they’re exploring.

Beantown does have the option of trading Pierce. That said, it may not be too viable an option. No team will want to relinquish assets of any value for an aging forward who could potentially be hitting the open market anyway. Others just wouldn’t be inclined to give that much up for him period.

Without an adequate trade on the table that either a) saves the Celtics more money or b) nets them some incredible talent, the team’s hand could be forced. Or not. See the dilemma?

I don’t want to bore you with the same details over and over again, nor do I wish to discredit what the Celtics have been able to do with their current core. The simple fact just is they’re not title contenders, even with a healthy Rajon Rondo.

To be considered a title contender in the Eastern Conference, you have to be able to keep pace with the Miami Heat. Would the Celtics of today push the Heatles to seven games again? No. I won’t say it’s an impossible, but it’s certainly improbable. And I’m not placing too much stock in the Heat. That’s how the East is measured. You can’t contend for a title if you can’t get past them. One of the only reasons I ever considered the Knicks legitimate contenders (man, was I wrong) was because they could drill enough threes to bury the Heat. That’s just how it is.

Knowing this, that the Celtics aren’t in the position they need to be as is, what are they supposed to do?

It’s difficult to say. You could just conclude they should pay Pierce off and be done with it all, but that doesn’t really make them better. They won’t create enough cap to hit the ground running in free agency and they’ll have lost their leading scorer.

Trading him is equally as convoluted. What they get in return has to be financially and tactically specific. When unloading a player who is on the wrong side of 35, you lose the right to be selective, so that just may not be possible.

Rest assured, however, Boston hasn’t made a decision yet. Pierce is still a member of the Celtics.

For now.