Report: Clippers still pursuing Paul Pierce, trying to work out sign-and-trade
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Los Angeles Clippers president Doc Rivers won't take no for an answer when it comes to free agent forward Paul Pierce.
The Clippers reportedly reached a deal with free agent center Spencer Hawes on Friday night, and the team is trying to work out a sign-and-trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The aim would be to acquire Pierce using their salary exceptions.
Doc Rivers trying to work sign-and-trade w/ Cavs for Hawes, preserving Clippers exception to still target Paul Pierce, sources tell Y.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 5, 2014
A report emerged on Thursday which cited the Clippers' interest in acquiring Pierce in a sign-and-trade with the Brooklyn Nets (see below). However, the Nets rebuked their advances, with Nets GM Billy King stating, "They made a call and inquired, but there's nothing there at this point that makes sense for us."
Given the Clippers' fiduciary state, it would be difficult to negotiate a sign-and-trade.
Because the Clippers are over the cap, the team would need to match Hawes' incoming salary within roughly 125%, which would necessitate the Cavaliers taking on guard Jared Dudley's unsightly deal ($8.5 million remaining) or a combination involving forward Matt Barnes' contract ($6.9 million remaining) and other assets.
As noted by Wojnarowski, the Clippers would need to part with useful assets (so, not Barnes or Dudley) to land a sign-and-trade.
Unless Clippers are willing to trade JJ Redick or first-round picks to Nets for Paul Pierce, a sign-and-trade is unlikely, sources tell Y
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 5, 2014