NBA Rumors: Boston Celtics Trading Paul Pierce To Cleveland Cavaliers?


Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce

Greg M. Cooper – USA TODAY Sports

The 2012-13 NBA regular season has come to a close and you know what that means: another busy offseason full of actual moves and tons of rumors. The latest rumor has the Boston Celtics trading future Hall-of-Fame forward Paul Pierce to the Cleveland Cavaliers for two second-round draft picks, both near the top of the second round. When I first saw this, I have to admit I laughed for a little bit, and then went I when back to it again and laughed some more. This is just such a stupid rumor. There is no way that Celtics GM Danny Ainge would trade him for two second-round picks, considering that he would only take a first-round pick from the Los Angeles Clippers for head coach Doc Rivers; the Clippers were insisting on only giving up a second-round pick.

The Celtics hold the rights to Pierce this summer, meaning that they could keep him on the roster for $15 million or buy him out for $5 million. In this type of trade scenario, they would be much better off just letting him go and not strengthening another Eastern Conference organization. The Celtics will do everything in their power to move Pierce for attractable assets, whether that be a future first-round pick or as part of a larger deal, say to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a possible sign-and-trade deal for disgruntled forward Josh Smith.

The Celtics have an important decision ahead on Pierce’s contract, but this type of move to Cleveland just makes no sense.

Rob Lunder covers the Boston Celtics for Rant Sports. For all Celtics news go to the team home page on Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @rlunder18


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