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Washington Wizards Need Paul Pierce To Stick Around For 1 More Year

By Josh Wilson

May 15, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce (34) reacts after getting hit in the face against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce (34) reacts after getting hit in the face against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 24, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce (34) and Wizards guard John Wall (2) celebrate after their game against the Toronto Raptors in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 106-99, and lead the series 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce (34) and Wizards guard John Wall (2) celebrate after their game against the Toronto Raptors in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 106-99, and lead the series 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Veteran Presence

Just as I wrote on why the Wizards should re-sign Drew Gooden, Pierce can apply here in many ways. Although he wouldn’t come as cheap as Gooden might, he still brings a lot of the same qualities, even more amplified than Gooden offers.

The veteran presence is one huge quality. I rarely noticed the Wizards getting overwhelmed with leads from the Hawks or Raptors in the playoffs, and as I’ve said before, getting overwhelmed is a true young player problem, not a veteran problem.

I believe this staying calm attitude that the Wizards roster demonstrated was a direct result of the maturity that existed from the team’s older players like Pierce. Pierce would still battle, and often lead the team to long runs in order to diminish leads, no matter what the score was.

Pierce knows this game inside and out, and is able to spread this wisdom like wild fire with any teammate he comes into contact with. It’s hard to believe that he’s been able to impact players like this in just one season with the Wizards, so it would certainly be a shame to see that come to an end.

I believe as far as what he’s shown some of these younger players, he’s got a lot of unfinished business. Again, this is Pierce’s decision, and having “unfinished business,” with younger players isn’t a reason for him to convince himself to come back, but it is a reason for the Wizard needing him back next season.

Next: He's Exhausted

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