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Los Angeles Clippers: Grading The Offseason

By Gerald Bourguet

Jul 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers players pose with jerseys at press conference at Staples Center. From left: Branden Dawson (22), DeAndre Jordan (6), Austin Rivers (25), coach Doc Rivers and Josh Smith (5), Cole Aldrich (45), Paul Pierce (34) and Wesley Johnson (33). Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers players pose with jerseys at press conference at Staples Center. From left: Branden Dawson (22), DeAndre Jordan (6), Austin Rivers (25), coach Doc Rivers and Josh Smith (5), Cole Aldrich (45), Paul Pierce (34) and Wesley Johnson (33). Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 9, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce (34) stands on the court during player introductions prior to the Wizards’ game against the Atlanta Hawks in game three of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 103-101. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Signing Paul Pierce

On paper, I love the reunion of two Boston Celtics greats. Since this is Pierce’s last hurrah, it’s great that he’ll get to spend it playing with a familiar face in Doc Rivers, on a team that has a legitimate shot to win a title.

As the Truth showed us last year, he’s still got plenty left in the tank. At this point in his career, Paul Pierce’s game resembles that of the old man at your local YMCA — he may look like a joke at first, but it doesn’t take long before he’s kicking everybody’s ass with slow, fundamentally sound play…letting them know about it too.

If the Clippers need a big-time shot or a clutch playoff performance, Pierce should be able to come through, even in limited minutes as he continues to fight Father Time. Even better, this signing makes the Stephenson trade less of a risk.

This acquisition isn’t perfect, however, especially with the departure of Barnes. Stephenson will do his best to defend the wing, but how on earth are the Clippers going to defend the small forward position? I can’t see either one of them being able to hold a Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard or even a Harrison Barnes in check in a playoff series.

Defensively, the Clippers had better hope the elite defense of Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan is enough to keep one of the NBA’s better defenses intact. But Pierce can also log time at the 4 in small-ball lineups, giving the Clips some versatility in addition to his three-point shooting, veteran leadership and clutch shot-making.

Grade: B+

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