Paul Pierce has decided not to retire, but must now decided if he wants to return to the Washington Wizards, or switch NBA franchises for the third year in a row.
According to the Washington Post’s Jorge Castillo, Pierce will either stay with the Washington Wizards or sign with the Clippers to play in his hometown of Los Angeles under former head coach Doc Rivers.
The question is where. The 10-time all-star will likely decide between two teams for his 18th campaign: the Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers. Pierce emphasized he loved his year with the Wizards, guiding the Wizards’ young core and getting another crack at the postseason in a more diminished role. And just because he opts out his contract doesn’t mean he won’t stay in the District; Pierce, who turns 38 in October, could sign a one-year deal for more than $5.5 million to stick around, which would also help the Wizards keep the flexibility they desire for the much anticipated summer of 2016.
If he goes to the Clippers, he’ll likely take Matt Barnes’ place in an already stacked offensive lineup. Rivers has said that he plans to bring Lance Stephenson off the bench, and the team is reportedly interested in bringing Pierce aboard.
Pierce has until the end of June to make a decision about his $5.5 million player option.