Pierce's 4th year not guaranteed after all

ESPN Boston
According to the supremely helpful salary database at ShamSports.com, Pierce's four-year contract is set to be paid out in escalating increments of $13.9 million next season, $15.3 million in 2011-12, and $16.8 million in 2012-13 before dipping back to $15.3 million in 2013-14.

The final season is only $4 million guaranteed, becoming $5 million if Pierce participates in 50 percent of Boston's games (regular season and playoffs) over the preceding three seasons, according to a note on the site. The deal is fully guaranteed if Pierce is not waived on or before June 30, 2013.

The language suggests the Celtics can swallow what would likely be a $5 million cap hit for the 2013-14 season in order to allow Pierce to ride off into the sunset a little earlier. Pierce will be 35 after that 2012-13 campaign with 15 seasons of NBA mileage on his tires.
This is great news for the Celtics (Wyc's saving a lot of luxury tax dough on this 1st year) and Celtics fans that were scared we'd be paying Pierce huge money in that 4th year for Michael Finley production. I must once again give major credit to Paul Pierce for accepting only (relative term) $51 million guaranteed. My guess is if he really wanted more money he could have made 20-30 million more elsewhere. Got to love the Truth.

Here's a recent video where Pierce discusses his "decision" and talks playing overseas after his NBA career is over.
I totally don't blame anyone for wanting to live in Italy for a couple years. The $10 million or so he'd make over there wouldn't hurt either.