Finally, Paul Pierce is coming home. The future Hall-of-Fame small forward has verbally agreed to a three-year, $10.6 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers according to various media reports.
Pierce will reunite with former head coach Doc Rivers with whom he won the 2008 NBA Title with the Boston Celtics. Rivers and Pierce were together for nine years in Boston, and Pierce himself spent 15 years in Bean Town.
After leaving Boston in a trade at the end of the 2013 NBA season, Pierce played a year with the Brooklyn Nets before signing with the Washington Wizards via free agency.
The Inglewood, CA native is a 10x NBA All-Star, and was named the NBA Finals MVP in 2008 after the Celtics defeated their rivals the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.
Pierce has always wanted to return to Los Angeles, and the chance to come home coupled with the opportunity to play for Rivers again appeared to be too enticing than other offers that were out there that could have netted Pierce more money.
Pierce will join a Los Angeles Clippers team that was one win away from reaching the Western Conference Finals last season, and should provide veteran leadership and a spark off the bench.
The Clippers traded away veterans Matt Barnes and Spencer Hawes earlier this month for SG Lance Stephenson and are looking to re-sign free agent center DeAndre Jordan.
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By adding the No. 16 scorer all-time in NBA history the Clippers significantly improve their roster as they look to win their first ever NBA Championship next season. Pierce brings leadership and a championship pedigree and could prove to be the missing piece LA's "other team" needs, to put them over the top.
THIS JUST IN: Paul Pierce verbally commits to join Clippers in a 3-year deal worth $10.5 million. (via @ESPNSteinLine & multiple reports) — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 1, 2015
