Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Pierce’s departure from Boston was expected. He wasn’t holding on to hope that the gang could make one more playoff run this season with Garnett, Rajon Rondo coming off knee surgery, and a salary cap-strapped roster.
“We were pretty much stuck on a treadmill as far as where we were and people don’t see the financial part of it,” he said. “That kind of straps a team from getting better. We were kind of in that position. How do we get better without spending money? So you have to determine if we want to stay right where we are, which is [a] four through eight seed? Or do we want to rebuild and hopefully get a player that can take us to that next level . . . This was pretty much almost inevitable.”
Boston Globe (Sunday Notes) – Paul Pierce stages final summer camp in Boston
As time goes by slowly through the basketball-dark days of summer, it gets a little bit easier to accept the fact that Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are gone. In the past few days, Pierce has revealed The Truth’s version of the truth. By the way P describes how it all went down, it’s difficult for even the hardcore cynics to doubt him. In the Globe’s Sunday Notes, his quote above is just a harsh reality of the NBA. Pierce knew his time in Boston was up a long time ago (revealing as soon as Rondo went down with a torn ACL in January) and that could have even been known to him even earlier than that.
But Pierce seemed to be talking as if he were Danny Ainge in that above quote, as if he wanted to sacrifice his own personal wishes to benefit his team, his city. Sure, he certainly got a great outcome on his end by being dealt with his friend KG to an instant-contender in Brooklyn. Maybe his quotes and thoughts wouldn’t have been as cordial if Ainge jettisoned him to say the Bobcats or the Kings. But I choose to believe that Pierce is genuinely thrilled that he was able to help his team, the C’s, get better by leaving. He even hints at that earlier in the column by stating he’s not sure what will happen at this time next year when he’s a free agent as well as wanting to return to the C’s in a front office position.
“What I’ve been doing since the trade, this has given me a chance to look back at my career as a Celtic,” he said. “I’m going through my stuff packing, going through all my old pictures, former teammates, people I’ve had relationships with, it’s surreal.
That’s been hard, just all the stuff that you did out there, not even on the court but in the community. The foundation, how we elevated a lot of people in this community, and I am going to miss that.”
Asked if this is his last camp, Pierce said, “Maybe one day I may start another camp if I get an office job with the Celtics. Who knows? This year was the last official Paul Pierce camp at Basketball City.”
Pierce, 35, has just one year left on the four-year deal he signed with the Celtics in 2010. Free agency could be a distinct possibility next summer.
“Who knows what’s going to happen after this year?” said Pierce. “I don’t know what the future is going to bring. I don’t know if I’m going to be back with the Nets. I don’t know if I’m going to retire, you never know what’s going to happen. I feel like I have more in the tank but you never know with injuries, how your body feels. Sometimes those things tell you a lot quicker. Right now, I’ve been feeling good. My legs, my body feels strong.”
If you think it’s been difficult for you as a fan to see Pierce depart, just imagine how it’s been for him. It sounds perfect though that he would want to return here to work in the front office at some point down the road. Pierce belongs here in that regard and he will be forever cherished here until then as well as when he returns.
Another interesting part of the Globe’s piece is Jason Terry’s quote:
But first, Terry promised to be an improved player following a disappointing season with the Celtics.
“I’m definitely going be flying higher than I was in Boston. This will be my first year healthy in the last couple of years,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting back to that Sixth Man of the Year form that I had two years ago. And the only one that can do that for me is coach Jason Kidd because he understands what needs to be done for me to assume that role. Whether I was going to be in Boston or right here, I had to get healthy.”
Ahh yes, that’s right he was too injured all year. Got it. Terry, like Ray, will make a great politician someday. Finally, Gary Washburn tosses in either a note or his own personal thought on a potential contract extension for Avery Bradley so take it for what it’s worth”
Look for the Bucks to sign forward Larry Sanders to a long-term extension now that he has established himself as a cornerstone following a breakout third season. The Bucks disposed of Drew Gooden and Luc Mbah a Moute to clear more playing time for Sanders. The Celtics’Avery Bradley is also eligible for a long-term extension but it’s uncertain whether the club is willing to make such a commitment during its rebuilding. Bradley is coming off another injury-interrupted season.
It will be interesting to see what they do with AB. He could be a chip in a potential big trade if they don’t extend him. AB has proven that he has a place on a contending NBA team, he just needs to prove he can finally remain healthy.
The rest of the links:
WEEI – Celtics Summer Cooler Hour 1 | Hour 2
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