Report: Pierce plans to return for 19th season
The Truth isn't finished yet.
Los Angeles Clippers veteran Paul Pierce plans to return to the team for his 19th season in the NBA, reports Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Daily News.
Pierce told reporters at the end of the 2015-16 season that he would hold off on making a decision on retirement, and that his continued presence in the league would be determined by his wife and children.
"I just don’t want to make an emotional decision right now," Pierce said this summer. "I’ll just take some time off, sit down with my family and think long and hard."
Pierce will turn 39 before the season starts, and if the grizzled veteran were to return, he would have to accept a marginal role with the Clippers. With Pierce's status in doubt, the Clippers re-signed Wesley Johnson and Luc Mbah a Moute to shore up their depth on the wing.
The possibility exists that Pierce could transition into playing as a small ball power forward, but again, he would have to scrounge for missed minutes between Blake Griffin, Marreese Speights, Brandon Bass, and rookie Brice Johnson.
Pierce averaged career-lows with the Clippers last season. He posted 6.1 points per game and shot an abysmal 36.3 percent from the field along with 31 percent shooting from deep.
The future Hall of Famer is on the books for $3.5 million in 2016-17.