duncan228
12-14-2009, 03:22 AM
Time for a security blanket (http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/12/13/celtics_pierce_deserves_contract_extension/?page=full)
Pierce deserves contract extension
By Gary Washburn
The Boston Globe
If he chooses, Paul Pierce could be one of those premium free agents available in the Class of 2010. The exceptional scorer and senior Celtic has an opt-out clause in his contract that could make him an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Pierce is set to earn $21.5 million in the 2010-11 season and that is considerable money to walk away from, especially from a franchise that Pierce has become synonymous with.
It would be nightmarish to imagine Pierce playing his final years in another uniform, so much so that even he cringes at the thought.
“It probably wouldn’t even look right, me in another uniform at this point,’’ Pierce said yesterday morning at the United Center before the Celtics’ 106-80 win over the Chicago Bulls. “It’s probably like seeing Kobe [Bryant] in another uniform or Tim Duncan in another uniform. It probably wouldn’t look right.’’
No worries Celtics fans, Pierce is not relishing the possibility of free agency. He is rarely asked about the rather obscure opt-out clause, but it might be time for the organization to respond and give Pierce the career security he desires and ensures that he finishes a Celtic.
“Like I said, I want to retire a Celtic, I kept that no secret and it will all play out, depending how many years I want to play,’’ he said. “I am sure that Danny [Ainge] and Doc [Rivers], as long as these guys are here, ownership, I am sure they want me to stay also.’’
The Celtics would be well served to sign Pierce to an extension for the purpose of setting their salary cap in coming years. Boston can re-sign Ray Allen using its Larry Bird exception rule, which allows teams to re-sign players who have been with the team three years or longer to contracts that don’t count against the salary cap.
Signing Allen and Pierce - Kevin Garnett is signed through 2011-12 - to extensions can allow Ainge to begin planning for life after the Big Three and can stabilize the salary cap. With Rajon Rondo’s $55 million extension kicking in next season, the Celtics will have to lean on the Big Three for a couple of years until their salaries expire.
Given how well the Celtics are playing now, it is fair to guesstimate that the Big Three each have a couple of more years left, especially Pierce, at 32 the youngest of the group. Pierce’s career longevity is not taken for granted. Of the 29 players taken in the first round of the 1998 draft, 17 are no longer in the NBA.
“[It’s] a lot of hard work and kind of being lucky at the same time,’’ Pierce said. “Not having any major injuries because you are starting to see guys that you came out with and I am sure Kevin and Ray would say the same thing. Guys that you are drafted with that had great careers and you are seeing them phase out of the league either by retirement or by not having it anymore. I have just been fortunate in that aspect of keeping myself in the best condition and lucky enough not to have any major injuries.’’
While Pierce has established himself as one of the franchise’s all-time great players, former teammate Antoine Walker is long removed from his productive NBA years and is besieged with financial problems. Pierce hasn’t talked much about Walker’s situation, but the players will be forever linked because of their major roles in resurrecting the Celtics from a moribund franchise to Eastern Conference finalist.
Walker is one of those players Pierce referenced. His skills dissipated swiftly and his money disappeared even faster. While Pierce is attempting to lead the Celtics to a second title in three years, Walker, who earned $108 million in his career, has agreed to pay more than $900,000 in Las Vegas casino debts and was tabbed as a slumlord for owning decaying Chicago apartment complexes.
Pierce hopes Walker’s situation serves as a lesson to younger players who believe the money well will never run dry.
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to Antoine, man,’’ he said. “Guys, especially young guys who haven’t been in the league that long, [have to] use those type of things as examples, especially when life expectancy of an NBA player doesn’t last long. It could end quick. Hopefully we can use the players in the past whose careers have been shortened one way or another, just learn to appreciate it a little bit better. There’s going to be life after basketball because there’s not a long life span of a career playing basketball.’’
Pierce’s career has been extended by playing with the Big Three and there are games such as last night’s - when he plays 25 minutes, hits 4 of 12 shots, and the Celtics win big - that preserve his body for bigger battles down the road. Pierce said he sees those battles while donning Celtics armor, but that doesn’t mean he won’t leave a sliver of suspense regarding his opt-out.
“We’ll just talk about it next summer,’’ he said with a smile. “Obviously I want to be here and I want to be in the position to continue to win a championship as long as I am a Celtic. But that’s something you worry about in the offseason, especially for me. Obviously everybody knows my love for the city of Boston and playing for this franchise and I want to retire here. So as far as contracts and stuff, that will take care of itself. So I am going to keep playing the way I am playing and try to help this ballclub win.’’
Pierce deserves contract extension
By Gary Washburn
The Boston Globe
If he chooses, Paul Pierce could be one of those premium free agents available in the Class of 2010. The exceptional scorer and senior Celtic has an opt-out clause in his contract that could make him an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Pierce is set to earn $21.5 million in the 2010-11 season and that is considerable money to walk away from, especially from a franchise that Pierce has become synonymous with.
It would be nightmarish to imagine Pierce playing his final years in another uniform, so much so that even he cringes at the thought.
“It probably wouldn’t even look right, me in another uniform at this point,’’ Pierce said yesterday morning at the United Center before the Celtics’ 106-80 win over the Chicago Bulls. “It’s probably like seeing Kobe [Bryant] in another uniform or Tim Duncan in another uniform. It probably wouldn’t look right.’’
No worries Celtics fans, Pierce is not relishing the possibility of free agency. He is rarely asked about the rather obscure opt-out clause, but it might be time for the organization to respond and give Pierce the career security he desires and ensures that he finishes a Celtic.
“Like I said, I want to retire a Celtic, I kept that no secret and it will all play out, depending how many years I want to play,’’ he said. “I am sure that Danny [Ainge] and Doc [Rivers], as long as these guys are here, ownership, I am sure they want me to stay also.’’
The Celtics would be well served to sign Pierce to an extension for the purpose of setting their salary cap in coming years. Boston can re-sign Ray Allen using its Larry Bird exception rule, which allows teams to re-sign players who have been with the team three years or longer to contracts that don’t count against the salary cap.
Signing Allen and Pierce - Kevin Garnett is signed through 2011-12 - to extensions can allow Ainge to begin planning for life after the Big Three and can stabilize the salary cap. With Rajon Rondo’s $55 million extension kicking in next season, the Celtics will have to lean on the Big Three for a couple of years until their salaries expire.
Given how well the Celtics are playing now, it is fair to guesstimate that the Big Three each have a couple of more years left, especially Pierce, at 32 the youngest of the group. Pierce’s career longevity is not taken for granted. Of the 29 players taken in the first round of the 1998 draft, 17 are no longer in the NBA.
“[It’s] a lot of hard work and kind of being lucky at the same time,’’ Pierce said. “Not having any major injuries because you are starting to see guys that you came out with and I am sure Kevin and Ray would say the same thing. Guys that you are drafted with that had great careers and you are seeing them phase out of the league either by retirement or by not having it anymore. I have just been fortunate in that aspect of keeping myself in the best condition and lucky enough not to have any major injuries.’’
While Pierce has established himself as one of the franchise’s all-time great players, former teammate Antoine Walker is long removed from his productive NBA years and is besieged with financial problems. Pierce hasn’t talked much about Walker’s situation, but the players will be forever linked because of their major roles in resurrecting the Celtics from a moribund franchise to Eastern Conference finalist.
Walker is one of those players Pierce referenced. His skills dissipated swiftly and his money disappeared even faster. While Pierce is attempting to lead the Celtics to a second title in three years, Walker, who earned $108 million in his career, has agreed to pay more than $900,000 in Las Vegas casino debts and was tabbed as a slumlord for owning decaying Chicago apartment complexes.
Pierce hopes Walker’s situation serves as a lesson to younger players who believe the money well will never run dry.
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to Antoine, man,’’ he said. “Guys, especially young guys who haven’t been in the league that long, [have to] use those type of things as examples, especially when life expectancy of an NBA player doesn’t last long. It could end quick. Hopefully we can use the players in the past whose careers have been shortened one way or another, just learn to appreciate it a little bit better. There’s going to be life after basketball because there’s not a long life span of a career playing basketball.’’
Pierce’s career has been extended by playing with the Big Three and there are games such as last night’s - when he plays 25 minutes, hits 4 of 12 shots, and the Celtics win big - that preserve his body for bigger battles down the road. Pierce said he sees those battles while donning Celtics armor, but that doesn’t mean he won’t leave a sliver of suspense regarding his opt-out.
“We’ll just talk about it next summer,’’ he said with a smile. “Obviously I want to be here and I want to be in the position to continue to win a championship as long as I am a Celtic. But that’s something you worry about in the offseason, especially for me. Obviously everybody knows my love for the city of Boston and playing for this franchise and I want to retire here. So as far as contracts and stuff, that will take care of itself. So I am going to keep playing the way I am playing and try to help this ballclub win.’’