Paul Pierce Close To Joining Wizards

[jonathanlambert33]

https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/488169917364305920

 

[RipCity32]

Such an odd image that will be. Seeing him in a Wizards uniform.

 

[Thomas-Panda-Saxby]

Washingville getting it done, bringing a veteran in

 

[RipCity32]

Lol at the Nets though. That team is beyond fucked.

 

[dez]

Mike did it

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I actually like this for Washington. Pierce isn't the old Paul Pierce but he's still a guy I would like to have.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

https://twitter.com/MazzESPN/status/488174166449729538

 

[Pugz]

pretty random.

 

[buzzy]

Random as fuck.

Wiz should lock up that four seed though.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

Cavs? Heat? Nah, Washington baby. That's the team you need to worry about. 
 
 
In all seriousness though, this is a solid signing. Good value, off the books in '16 if they think Durant is actually more than a pipedream. 

 

[elcheato]

Pierce is terrible at ring chasing

 

[Mobruler]

I think this is a sweet signing for the Wizards.  When you have a team full of players who have no experience winning anything and are getting by on sheer talent alone, a battle hardened veteran who has won basketball games in mid June is the perfect medicine.  This is the kind of move the Clippers needed to make to win a title.
 
The Wizards' success relies mostly on how their back-court will evolve.  Bradley Beal is a really nice 2 and it's more likely than not that he takes a next step.  That will make him a star considering he's already 17 ppg and has impressive long range %s.  I don't know if John Wall has another big step, but hopefully he has been spending his off-season strongly focusing on improving flaws.  Hopefully he has taken a billion jump shots in the gym in the past month.
 
Washington is a team that SHOULD be improved at the 1, 2 and 3 compared to last season.

 

[elcheato]

I'd actually say the Wizards downgraded. They did a great job maximizing the value of their MLE, they needed another SF, but last year's Ariza is better than Pierce.

 

[Pugz]

I'd actually say the Wizards downgraded. They did a great job maximizing the value of their MLE, they needed another SF, but last year's Ariza is better than Pierce.

my initial thoughts as well but as mob said, peirce is going to help the young guys a ton. still a downward talent wise and very random.

 

[Mobruler]

How could the Wizards possibly be regressed?  Even if you'd rather have Ariza over Pierce, which is something I disagree with, the lifeblood of that team is the back court.  The WORST case scenario I see with that back court (aside from a devastating injury) is Beal improves and Wall takes neither a step forward nor a step back.
 
They also have a wildcard in a 3rd overall pick in Otto Porter who was literally useless as a rookie last season.  If he's ever going to be worth anything, he'll contribute this season and add to their depth.

 

[elcheato]

Didn't say the Wizards will regress as a team. Just said Pierce is a downgrade from Ariza.
 
I thought very little of Otto Porter during the draft, so I'm not expecting much of anything out of him.

 

[bosoxlover12]

Does Otto have any value right now? It's less than Bennett's for sure

 

[Mobruler]

Bennett's value has to be higher if only for the fact that he has a more NBA-ready body, but of course Porter has value.  There's going to be value for a 3rd overall pick who just turned 21 and an awful rookie season isn't going to completely kill that.

 

[bosoxlover12]

Porter wouldn't have been a top 20 pick most likely in this draft tho


Just a really weak 2013

 

[Pugz]

otto won't ever be more than a rotational depth guy.