Paul Pierce may return to the Boston Celtics or the Brooklyn Nets--either way, he doesn’t appear likely to retire until he has at least one more shot at winning another championship.
Pierce said earlier this year that he’s open to returning to the Celtics, “maybe as a player, maybe as a coach,” but Boston isn’t considered a title contender right now, making an immediate return very questionable.
A return to the Nets certainly isn’t out of the question. Although Brooklyn lost 4-1 to the Miami Heat, most of the games were very close and could have gone the other way with a couple more plays. With Brook Lopez returning from injury and a couple of shifts in the rotation and roster, the Nets can definitely come back next year claiming to be a legitimate title contender.
Pierce, 36, told reporters after the loss on Wednesday night that he believes he still has something to contribute to a team, whichever team that may be. He added that he has one or two years at most.
“When I get a chance to sit back and really put my thinking hat on I’ll figure out what’s next,” he said, reported ESPN.
“Although we didn’t accomplish our goals, you got to learn from it and see coming in next year, whether I will be here, or guys coming in, they got to understand that this is the precedent that we set. So going forward, for the organization, making the first round last year, making the second round, I think the organization is heading in the right direction,” he added.
Another factor in his potential return to the Nets is whether Kevin Garnett returns, which could be considered a bigger question mark. Garnett didn’t speak to reporters after the loss.
Pierce’s stats dropped this season to 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, but he became more of a role player while Deron Williams and Joe Johnson were the main options on offense. He also averaged a career low 28 minutes per game as coach Jason Kidd sought to keep him fresh.
Pierce’s net worth is estimated to be around $70 million while he makes about $15 million a year. He signed a four-year, $61 million contract with the Celtics in 2010, before he was traded to the Nets.
Pierce also makes about $1 million from endorsement deals.
