Paul Pierce will play in 2015-2016. The question now is for which team he’ll be suiting up in the 18th, and potentially last, season of his storied career.
Confirming a long-held suspicion, the 37-year-old officially opted out of his contract with the Washington Wizards.
.@paulpierce34 has informed The Players' Tribune that he is opting out of his contract to be a free agent. pic.twitter.com/k9j2Qls6TP
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) June 27, 2015
Pierce signed a two-year, $10.8 million deal with Washington last summer that contained a player option for next season. He’s leaving a guaranteed $5.5 million salary on the table to become a free agent when the moratorium ends July 1st.
It’s been rumored for weeks that Pierce, who contemplated retirement following the Wizards’ playoff elimination, would choose to hit the open market. Though a reunion with Doc Rivers for the Los Angeles Clippers appears the most likely outcome of his free agency, it bears mentioning that the Boston Celtics reportedly plan on chasing their former franchise player, too.
Barring a surprise, Pierce won’t be returning to Washington. Not only is he probably due a smaller salary on the open market than he would have received from the Wizards by exercising the final season of his contract, but the team acquired small forward Kelly Oubre, Jr. on draft night, too.
Expect a quick resolution to Pierce’s free agency when the period finally begins on Wednesday.
[Via The Players’ Tribune]
