Paul Pierce: Celtics Star's Boston Days May Soon Be Over

After more than 15 seasons, Paul Pierce's days in Boston may now be numbered.

Yahoo! Sports is reporting the Celts all-time leading scorer doesn’t believe he’ll be making a return appearance next season. After several seasons of being among the Eastern Conference’s best teams, the Celtics were easily bounced from the playoffs in the first round this season and speculation is growing that general manager Danny Ainge may now be committed to a full-fledge rebuilding effort around the core of Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, Jeff Green and Jared Sullinger.

Once a perennial all-star, there’s little question Pierce has lost a step. And, armed with an option where they can buy him out for just $5 million this off-season, management seems to be finally warming to the idea of going in a different direction.

“I don’t think they’ll bring him back,” Yahoo! reporter Jeff Dickerson recently told Comcast New England. “I know for a fact that people around Paul Pierce have pretty much resigned themselves to the fact that he’s played his final game in a Boston Celtics uniform.”

Dickerson further speculated that the departure of Pierce could also mean the end of the Kevin Garnett era in Boston. “If Paul’s gone, I think without a doubt Kevin Garnett is gone – either by retirement or he finally decides to waive his no-trade clause, and the Celtics maybe work something out with another team,” he said.

No matter what moves the Celtics ultimately chose to make, most everyone agrees Ainge seems to be banking on the illustrious history of the organization going a long way toward luring another superstar to town.

Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, O.J. Mayo, Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith are among some of the bigger name free agents this off season.

 

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