Newly reinstalled Indiana Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird is already busy sizing up the competition.
Bird told ESPN he believes recently traded longtime Boston Celtics stars Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett both have “plenty left.” The pair was recently shipped to Brooklyn as part of a housecleaning in Boston, and Bird knows that only stands to make the already potent Nets, led by Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson, that much more dangerous.
"The way they will be coached and the bench that they have -- yeah -- they'll pick their spots. But when the time comes, they'll be there," he told ESPN.
Up until now Pierce had spent his entire career in Boston, and even Bird, largely regarded as one of the greatest players in Celtics history, admits it will be strange to see him wearing anything other than Celtic green.
"I got a lot of respect for Paul and what he has accomplished,” he said. “But who says he's not going to play another four years? It's a tough situation."
Pierce, 35, averaged 18.6 points per game this past season and trails only John Havlicek on the Celtics all-time scoring list.
"Pierce is one of the better ones to ever come through there," said Bird. "He really is."
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