The Brooklyn Nets are in a state of limbo. Head coach Jason Kidd has been traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for two second-round draft picks after just one year with the team. He reportedly was unhappy with the amount of control he had with the team and decided to leave. So now the Nets are once again looking for their fourth coach in two years. On top of that, they have plenty of free agents to worry about and it starts with Paul Pierce.
Pierce came to the Nets with one year remaining on his contract. While no longer in the prime of his career, he averaged 13.5 points and 4.6 rebounds during the season after being traded from the Boston Celtics. Now a free agent, does Brooklyn re-sign him? According Ken Berger of CBS Sports, the Nets are in no rush to re-sign Pierce, instead staying content to let the market dictate his value before making an official offer. At 36, Pierce is not likely going to get a long-term deal, but a veteran of status will want plenty of money.
According to Marc Stein of ESPN, several teams are preparing to look at Pierce, the first being the Los Angeles Clippers. With Doc Rivers as head coach, many put the west coast team as a favorite to land the forward. The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets are also planning on talking with him if their other free agency plans do not work out. The Nets have reached out to begin negotiations, but are not expected to sign a deal any time soon.
What does Pierce mean for Kevin Garnett? Viewed as a package deal, Garnett has a player option for next season and is expected to opt in. Many assumed that if Garnett stayed, Pierce would as well, but that might not be the case. Does the Kidd situation play a factor in the decision making of the two veterans? It could seeing as both veterans would ideally like to contend for a title in their final seasons in the league. The Nets are not looking great right now, once again searching for a coach, looking less stable than ever.
The Nets are also dealing with the high demand for Shaun Livingston who had a breakout season. There could also be a Deron Williams trade in the works if Brooklyn wants to just truly dismantle the roster. At this point, anything is possible. The trade talk of Williams has been around for some time. No one expected Kidd to be leaving after a year, so a trade of the franchise point guard certainly would not shock anyone.
