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Report: Wizards' Pierce may opt out of contract, sign with Clippers

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Thoughts of retirement ran through the mind of 17-year veteran Paul Pierce following the Washington Wizards' 94-91 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6 of their second-round series.

After his potential game-tying three was beaten by the final buzzer by the narrowest of margins, the reality of an NBA without The Truth began to set in.

Perhaps one more shot at a second Larry O'Brien trophy would be enough to keep Pierce on the hardwood for one more season.

That opportunity may not come with the Wizards, though, and Pierce may opt out of his contract and sign with the Los Angeles Clippers this summer, according to NBA.com's David Aldridge.

Aldridge reports that "many around the league" expect Pierce to turn down his player option of $5.5 million and join his former Boston Celtics head coach, Doc Rivers, in the City of Angels.

Pierce won the only NBA Championship of his career under Rivers in 2008, helping the Celtics win their first title in over 20 years.

"The Wizards need a long-term solution at power forward to go with their electric backcourt of Wall and Beal and the emerging Porter, who was a terrific 3-and-D man during the playoffs and looks ready to claim the small forward spot full time," writes Aldridge.

Despite finding success with Pierce as a stretch four against the Toronto Raptors in the opening round of the playoffs, the Wizards would be wise to target a younger option this summer to replace the 37-year-old.

Pierce averaged a respectable 14.6 points and 4.2 rebounds for Washington during the playoffs, despite being one of the older players in the league.

A dream scenario for the Clippers would be signing Pierce with the veteran's exception of just under $1.5 million, although the taxpayer's exception of $3.7 million would be far more enticing. That figure is the maximum the Clippers will be able offer if they re-sign impending free agent DeAndre Jordan.

Pierce would be taking a pay cut regardless, so the possibility of another ring and closing out his career in his hometown would have to take precedence over monetary gain.

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