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Paul Pierce suggests next season may not be his last

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Maybe The Truth was only spitting half-truths.

It was just a few weeks ago that Paul Pierce admitted that he plans to retire when his contract expires at the end of next season, saying "I've had my time."

Whether tormenting opposing fans has reminded him why he loves the game so much or the growth and success of the Washington Wizards has him excited, Pierce has loosened up on his retirement rhetoric. In the midst of making glowing remarks about his time with the Wizards, Pierce was unclear about how long he plans to stick around:

It's been nothing but love from the time I got off the airplane in the summer. 
...
I feel like even if it's one year, two years, or three years I'm here, I feel like I'm going to have a relationship with these guys for a long, long time after basketball. It seems like we connect, and I connected with the city.

A third year with the Wizards? That would mean Pierce, who's in the first year of a two-year, $10.8-million contract with a player option for next season, would be doing a 19th NBA season. 

It certainly seems possible based on his performance this season, as the 37-year-old continues to be an effective two-way combo-forward. In 73 games, he averaged 11.9 points, four rebounds and two assists, hitting 38.9 percent of his 3-point shots. The Wizards were 5.6 points per-100 possessions better with him on the floor, and they've leaned on him for clutch shot-making in the playoffs.

He's also helped with the development of Otto Porter, and Pierce could stand as a great mentor for the young, developing Wizards moving forward as his on-court role diminishes.

Pierce ranks 16th in all-time NBA scoring, 50 points behind former teammate Kevin Garnett and within striking distance of the top-10 were he to play two more years.

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