David Aldridge of NBA.com raised the possibility of Washington Wizards veteran Paul Pierce opting out of his contract next month and signing as a free agent with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he'd be reunited with coach Doc Rivers.
"Maybe Paul Pierce will walk away from the second year of his deal ($5.5 million) in Washington in order to finish his career in his hometown, playing for his old Celtics coach and his former teammate-turned-Clippers assistant Sam Cassell for less money," Aldridge wrote Monday.
Los Angeles already has $58 million in guaranteed salaries on the book for next season, and that doesn't include the max-level money the team is expected to offer soon-to-be free agent DeAndre Jordan. Signing Pierce to a veteran's minimum contract might be possible, and he admitted in November he planned to sign with the Clippers for this season but couldn't because the Brooklyn Nets delayed his free agency.
However, things are different now. Pierce played a key role in Washington's playoff run, he clearly developed chemistry with his teammates, and he had a huge impact on the team's younger players, namely John Wall and Bradley Beal. The Wizards will only get better after losing to the Atlanta Hawks in the conference semifinals, making it seem unlikely he will leave his $5.5 million player option with Washington on the table for what will likely be his final season.
