While the Los Angeles Clippers await the decision from DeAndre Jordan, the team acquired veteran Paul Pierce from the Washington Wizards on a three-year $1o million contract. The 37-year-old provides the Clippers with a reliable scorer and a locker presence that was sorely lacking last season. His ability to stay calm and hit important shots will help the Clippers to become championship contenders.

However, at the age of 37 it is unclear how productive Pierce can be at this stage of his career. Last season he averaged 11.9 ppg while playing 26.2 mpg with the Wizards, and I expect him to put up the same kind of numbers with the Clippers.

The problem is that Paul Pierce cannot defend like he used to at the early stages of his career and the Clippers really need to improve defensively. There is still work to do for Doc Rivers to sign defensive-minded players who will contribute heavily on the defensive end.

I do not believe that Paul Pierce will be playing all 82 games and he will only play around 20 to 25 minutes a game. That means the Clippers need to search for players who have the athletic ability to defend their position and especially at the small forward position. Guys like Wesley Johnson or Alonzo Gee would be perfect counterparts to Pierce when he leaves the court. Paul Pierce was a good signing, but the Clippers need more help if they ever want to get to that championship level they have been searching for.