Pierce to speak with Celtics about future, has talked coaching with Garnett

Paul Pierce is already thinking about life after basketball, and that future may involve the Boston Celtics.

Pierce, who owns a $5.5-million player option for next season with the Washington Wizards, still looks the part of a productive player at age 37, in his 17th season. Aging is a reality, though, and Pierce told The Boston Herald that discussions about his future could come as soon as this summer, even with the player option existing.

Any discussion about his post-playing career future in basketball will begin with the franchise where he spent his first 15 seasons and won an NBA championship.

"I'll probably go up there this summer after the season and talk to Danny (Ainge), talk to Wyc (Grousbeck)," Pierce said. "You know, see what opportunities may open when I'm done."

What role Pierce may fit is yet to be seen, and that's something he admits he'll have to think about more in the coming months. One intriguing possibility is Pierce heading to the sideline, where he could even be joined by former teammate Kevin Garnett.

As Pierce explains, he and Garnett have thought themselves potential coaches:

Coaching could be in my future. I think I still have a lot left to give this game. I always find myself talking to the guys. When we’re going through scouting, I’m giving out pointers. A lot of the assistants say, ‘Man, you’ve got a lot to give this game after you’re done.’ So whether it’s coaching or being a general manager, it’s something I think about. I think it’s something that Kevin (Garnett) has even thought about. Me and him talked about it. I think he would enjoy coaching. You know, Kevin likes to teach.

Garnett is on record as wanting to own a piece of a team, possibly the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he's said to have a post-retirement role waiting with the Brooklyn Nets, so it may take some convincing to get him to Boston. 

The idea of the former championship teammates coaching together is a lot of fun, with Garnett obviously playing bad cop to The Truth's good cop.