Paul Pierce sentimental for return to Boston, not mad about trade, also not sure when Rondo will be healthy
Back on draft day when it was announced that Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were going to be traded, the immediate thing that crossed my mind was how emotional it will be to attend their first game back at the Garden next season. I get goosebumps just thinking about. To no surprise, Pierce has been thinking about it a lot too. From Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix:
Pierce got choked up talking about his return to Boston, said he had envisioned it "a thousand times, and every time shed tears."
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) July 18, 2013
Watching the press conference, it was clear that the former C's captain is having a very difficult time moving on. However, Pierce said he holds no grudge against Danny Ainge for dealing him, claiming he would have done the same thing. From the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn:
Paul Pierce said that he was the #Celtics GM, he would have traded himself also, said Ainge is responsible for the Celtics, not Paul Pierce
— gary washburn (@GwashNBAGlobe) July 18, 2013
And finally, while not really related but definitely worth mentioning, ESPN Boston's Chris Forsberg adds this other little nugget from Pierce on the health of Rajon Rondo:
might have just been guessing, but Dr. Pierce on Rondo, he's "probably not going to be back until probably December, January, who knows?"
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) July 18, 2013
This may well be nothing, but it's definitely possible Pierce heard something along these lines from Rondo or someone else in the organization. And while the Celtics themselves might be tight lipped about it, Pierce no longer needs to be. My guess is there's a 99% chance that it's just speculation.
Follow Mark on twitter @LucidSportsFan
