It won’t come close to being The Decision 2.0 but that doesn’t mean Paul Pierce’s decision on where he will play next season won’t have a major impact on the hopes of the two contenders that are reportedly still in the mix to land him. Pierce opted out of the final year of a deal with the Washington Wizards that would have paid him $5.5 million in order to become an unrestricted free agent.
However, the Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers are reportedly still the only two teams that he will consider signing with this offseason. There is a very good chance he ends up back in Washington for more money but the Clippers present an interesting option as well. Here is a breakdown of both scenarios and the verdict on which destination is the better fit.
The Case For The Wizards
Pierce was fourth on the Wizards in scoring in his first year with the team as he averaged 11.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.6 threes and 0.6 steals while helping Washington record its most victories since the 1978-79 season (with 46). Pierce’s impact was even bigger in the playoffs when he averaged 14.6 points and 4.2 rebounds including a memorable game-winning basket against the Atlanta Hawks in the second round and there is no doubt his postseason performance helped him raise his UFA value.
The chemistry he developed with his teammates will help him should he decide to return to the Wizards where he would continue to be the third or fourth-best scoring option behind John Wall, Bradley Beal and Marcin Gortat with his playoff experience still the biggest factor when it comes to Washington bringing him back. Pierce’s potential exit wouldn’t change much in terms of the overall fantasy value for Wizards players since they would more than likely be able to find a small forward with a similar skill set on the open market only minus Pierce’s experience level.
The Case For The Clippers
While the chemistry and familiarity that Pierce has developed with Washington could weight heavily in to his UFA decision, he would also have a level of familiarity if he makes the move to Los Angeles where he would reunite with his former Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers. Rivers coached Pierce when he won his NBA titles with the Celtics and there is no doubt the bond between the two would be a key link for a potential UFA marriage.
The Clippers are reportedly willing to give Pierce a three-year deal averaging $3.37 million that would satisfy his financial needs. He would fit a similar role in Los Angeles where he would get the chance to start alongside Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and J.J. Redick. The competition is a lot tougher in the Western Conference and the Clippers are a deeper team overall, so Pierce’s fantasy production could tail off in comparison to the numbers he registered this past season, but depending on how free agency works out, a move to Los Angeles would probably give him the best chance to win another NBA championship.
Verdict
Both teams are willing to pay Pierce the money he wants as a UFA and while his fantasy production could tail off a bit on a deeper Clippers team, the bottom line is that the biggest reason he is still playing the game is for another chance to win an NBA title. The Wizards are on the right track but at this point in time, the Clippers are the team that is closer to being an NBA title contender. If they can find a way to bring back DeAndre Jordan – or even replace him with Tyson Chandler – as well as acquire Pierce, they will be right there in the mix in the Western Conference. Neither move would be a bad one for Pierce at this point but if he wants to win another NBA title it appears as though the Clippers would be the best fit for him moving forward.
