Celtics Making Pierce Available In Trade Talks

[Celtics33]

[QUOTE]

• Team executives involved in exploratory trade talks report that the Knicks (Amar'e Stoudemire), Lakers (Pau Gasol), Raptors (Bargnani) and Celtics (Paul Pierce) are open to discussing their high-profile names. In every case but one, the early indications are that none could be moved without a bad contract going back in return. (In Stoudemire's case, his health and the $45 million left on his contract after this season almost certainly will prevent any deal from happening.) The lone exception, executives say, may be Pierce, whose ruthless scoring prowess and championship experience come with another attractive feature: only $4 million of his $15.3 million salary is guaranteed next season. With the Celtics playing better since Avery Bradley returned from injury, president Danny Ainge once again finds himself trying to determine whether the remnants of the 2007-08 championship team have enough to make one more run. Some rival executives believe the Celtics recently waived Jarvis Varnado and Kris Joseph to create roster flexibility for a potential trade. If Ainge decides to stand pat, a deal involving Pierce -- which would mark the true end of the Big Three era -- could be re-examined around the draft or during free agency

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http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/2...ning-taxes/rss

[Raps08-09 Champ]

Bargnani for Pierce.
Gasol for Pierce.
Amar'e for Pierce.

[sixer04fan]

Only $4M guaranteed next year? Damn. Contenders will be drooling for a piece of that

[jsthornton7]

Bargnani for Pierce.
Gasol for Pierce.
Amar'e for Pierce.

Pierce lost his LA card. Send him to Toronto.

[Lakerfrk]

Pierce for Gasol seems like the best deal ever for the Lakers.... get him for this year, AND he can come off the books next year if it doesn't work out!

[penuch]

Can't see it happening. As long as they are in contention, there is no way Ainge makes that move. He will be slaughtered by Boston fans and the media. Especially with the way they have been playing of late.

[Jarvo]

Paul to The Lakers. . . Nah son.

[B'sCeltsPatsSox]

Will he get traded? Probably not but they'll trade him if they really like the offer.

[shep33]

Kinda makes sense for the Lakers and Celts to do a Pierce + fillers for Pau deal. Celts get a legit big man to play alongside KG, Lakers get a SF, and can slide MWP to the PF spot or bring him off the bench and start Hill at the PF.

Highly doubt it happens though

[B'sCeltsPatsSox]

Kinda makes sense for the Lakers and Celts to do a Pierce + fillers for Pau deal. Celts get a legit big man to play alongside KG, Lakers get a SF, and can slide MWP to the PF spot or bring him off the bench and start Hill at the PF.

Highly doubt it happens though

No way the Celtics would do that. Especially if they've got to give up more than just Paul.

[Cal827]

Pierce lost his LA card. Send him to Toronto.

Bargnani for Pierce it is

[Lucky Junior]

Kinda makes sense for the Lakers and Celts to do a Pierce + fillers for Pau deal. Celts get a legit big man to play alongside KG, Lakers get a SF, and can slide MWP to the PF spot or bring him off the bench and start Hill at the PF.

Highly doubt it happens though

Only way it makes sense is if we can incorporate the Raptors in the deal and get Bargnani.

Lakers get Pierce and Bargnani
Raptors get Sullinger, Melo, and World Peace
Celtics get Gasol

Really think that makes all 3 teams significantly better. And it makes sense financially. Don't sleep on what Pau will do when he's back on the low block playing next to Garnett. And Sullinger could be a star in Toronto.

[ohreally]

Trading Pierce would be a sin at this point, and I don't think Garnett would like it at all either. Unless they've already talked over trades involving Garnett.

I don't see Pierce going anywhere anyway. If he were to be traded he would retire. But he deserves to retire as a Celtic.

I understand that if a good young center and a good young forward were available, Ainge might owe it to his job to make these moves, but that still doesn't mean it's right.

Celts right now are 4 games behind the Knicks, which ain't much. Play it out.

[WHODAT8o8]

Only way it makes sense is if we can incorporate the Raptors in the deal and get Bargnani.

Lakers get Pierce and Bargnani
Raptors get Sullinger, Melo, and World Peace
Celtics get Gasol

Really think that makes all 3 teams significantly better. And it makes sense financially. Don't sleep on what Pau will do when he's back on the low block playing next to Garnett. And Sullinger could be a star in Toronto.

I would NEVER give up Pierce, Sullinger, and Melo just for Gasol....

[Stunnerko123]

This is solid all around http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=bsrjonf