Why the Truth will hurt the Clippers

According to CBSsports.com, Paul Pierce is leaning towards opting out of his second-year option with the Wiz Kids. And all signs point to Pierce trying to head west to L.A. and play for the L.A. Clippers. And to be completely honest, I don’t know why?

First of all, this makes no sense financially. Pierce’s contracts in his 30s have been much less than his career average of $15K a year, but he still got a steal last year; getting the MLE contract for two years. If Pierce indeed does decide to opt out, he will be turning down close to $5.6 million. There is no way he will get that in L.A.

It also doesn’t make any basketball sense. Sure he gets to reunite with his former friend and coach, Doc Rivers, but the Clippers roster is in a state of flux. With DeAndre Jordan’s pending free agency, holes on the bench, and veterans trying to bolt(Matt Barnes, Jamal Crawford), this is exactly the wrong time for Pierce to move on out west.

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Speaking of the west, why would any free agent move from the east??? The east is wide open! Despite the resurgence of the Cleveland Cavaliers this year, it is still much more of a weaker conference than the western conference. Why would you head to a conference full of 5-6 teams that could all be the number one seed in the east? And why would you leave a team that started young, got a year of good playoff experience, and is only going to get better?

May 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets in game seven of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Now, when you think of why the Clippers struggled in their two playoff series, what comes to mind? Well besides having absolutely no bench, they didn’t have that fourth quarter scorer…that guy who can put the team on his back when the stars in L.A. don’t have it going, so Paul Pierce makes perfect sense, right?

The average fan says yes. And who could blame you? I mean he was absolutely, monstrously clutch in game after game in the 2015 NBA playoffs. He put up numbers of almost 15PPG and 3.5 three-point shots a game. He had almost 5 potential game winners in 10 playoff games. Even making clutch shots that didn’t even count –

But, Pierce is 37, about to be 38. And while he can still hit clutch shots next year, he won’t be putting up the 18-20 PPG that this Clippers team desperately needs, especially in the playoffs. A third scorer that can lift the pressure off Blake Griffin and Chris Paul in the fourth quarter. Pierce may have been that answer 2-3 years ago, but not next year. Doc and the Clippers should have their eyes set on Kawhi Leonard or Jimmy Butler, not Paul Pierce.

So, hold on twittersphere, this is only a rumor. Pierce needs to do more thinking this summer before trying to have a storybook ending in L.A. It is an attractive decision at face value: ending it where it all started for the Truth, playing in front of his hometown, reminiscing with former teammates and coaches…WRONG, don’t fall for it Paul! Let me know what you guys think and comment below>>>

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