The reputation of Danny Ainge could hinge on what he decides to do with Paul Pierce.
Pierce was the established piece of the Boston Celtics in 2007 when the Celtics director of basketball operations fused together this generation’s first power trio by adding Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.
That core won 66 games and a title in its first year together in 2007-08 and would tally a record of 273-121 (.693) through five seasons together.
The taste of success eventually soured, ending with the 2011-12 seven-game conference finals loss to the Miami Heat followed by the jettisoning of Allen for the Heat that offseason.
Rajon Rondo’s injury deflated a 2012-13 season of mediocrity that ended with a first-round playoffs loss to the New York Knicks.
Now it’s decision time for Ainge, who must determine by June 30 whether to exercise a $5 million buyout option or pay the $15.33 million one year remaining on the contract of Pierce.
The rumors have swirled:
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Article written by Jimmy Spencer