CELTICS GREEN BLOG by and for boston celtics fans: In LA, Pierce has big dreams

by FLCeltsFan 10:31 AM

July 7, 2006
It sounds like Pierce is having second thoughts about staying in Boston his entire career. But then again it could be just trying to get a better contract out of Danny. If Pierce doesn't sign the extension, look for Danny to trade him as soon as he can get a package he likes in return. He still sounds like he likes our potential and our kids but it is possible that Walker's ring has made him want one for himself sooner rather than later.
The plan at the end of the year was for him to get the surgery right after the season so that he would be ready for the USA tryouts. But it is probably better for the Celtics that he won't be playing for the USA team. I imagine the invite was enough to make Pierce feel vindicated from the last experience. But the Olympics are a ways off and by then a lot of things can change.
The rest of the offseason is going to be very interesting for Celtics'fans...Will Pierce sign an extension? Will Danny pull the trigger on a blockbuster trade for an All Star? Who will he try to get: KG? Iverson? O'Neal? Marion? someone not even in the news? How will our Summer League Team do? Will Danny sign any of the Bigs from the Summer League Team? Will Gerald learn from coming into summer league in average shape? Stay tuned....

With friends and former teammates Antoine Walker, Ricky Davis, and Mike James in town, minor surgery on his left elbow planned for August (that will keep him from Team USA tryouts), and talk of Allen Iverson joining the Celtics, Pierce reflected on his career and wondered about his legacy.

He wants to be mentioned among the greatest NBA players, like his childhood idol, Magic Johnson, who previously hosted a charity weekend benefiting several LA-based and national foundations. But Pierce knows that kind of legacy rarely comes without a championship, something he might have to chase somewhere besides Boston.

``I think about [my legacy] all the time, probably more this year than other years," said Pierce. ``I realize I'm going into my ninth year and I've probably only got five or six years left to play. If I can just get that opportunity, to be on a team where I have a chance to compete for a championship, that's all I can ask for. I guess the teams that I've been on pretty much my whole career we've been fighting just to get in the playoffs. I want the opportunity to go deep into the playoffs just to show people what I can do."
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source: Globe

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Comments:

If Pierce thinks he has roughly 5 to 6 good years ahead of him to win a championship, he will strongly consider going to another team. If we stay with the young course, it will take us at least another 2 years to become legit ECF material (and that's looking at the best case scenario). It could be sooner if we trade for a proven veteran All-Star, but aside from bringing in Shaq, I don't think there's any player out there who can make us instant title contenders.
If Pierce is looking to move, Ainge has got some options. You can get a lot of good pieces for Pierce in a trade. Or he can use Pierce next year to try and land Greg Oden.

# posted by

derrenmatts : 12:12 PM

That is a very enticing idea, Derren. Landing Greg Oden could be just what this young team needs to put it over the top, with or without Pierce.

# posted by

FLCeltsFan : 4:28 PM

I definitely think so. If Telfair is good as Ainge advertises, we have our PG situation set. We are all crossing our fingers that Gerald Green and Al Jefferson become the standout players we see in them. If they do live up to their potential, we have our SF and PF positions set. We already have a bunch of young, but potentially solid role players in Gomes, Perkins, and Delonte (I know how much you love Perk and Delonte, FL12). The final piece of the puzzle would be that dominating shot blocker/rebounder and that guy could be Greg Oden.

The tricky part is getting that top spot in next year's draft to grab him (presuming he's coming out after a year in college).

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