Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett have been wearing the same uniform for seven years. They teamed up in Boston to win a championship. They agreed to a trade to the Brooklyn Nets only because both players were included in the deal. However, 2014 will look much different for the veterans as they prepare to go their separate ways. Pierce is headed to Washington, but is Garnett staying in Brooklyn?
Pierce has agreed to a contract with the Wizards that will secure his future over the next two years. The forward wanted to sign with a contending team that would give him an $11 million contract and Washington jumped at the opportunity. However, the moves means he is leaving Garnett behind who had yet to confirm what his future would entail.
According to ESPN's Chris Broussard, despite the loss of Pierce, Garnett will return to the Brooklyn Nets rather than retire or head elsewhere. He has 12 million reasons why he should simply stay in Brooklyn because they will not be anywhere else in the league for a player of his age. Not only is Garnett going to return to Brooklyn, but Broussard writes that he is "excited" about the current roster at hand and head coach Lionel Hollins who is replacing Jason Kidd.
Right now, the Nets roster is old, but could be talented when healthy. That will be the key. Deron Williams and Brook Lopez have yet to stay healthy, along with Garnett. If those three players can manage to stay on the court alongside Joe Johnson and newly acquired Jarrett Jack, then the Nets can make some noise. However, they still need to replace Pierce which could be easier said than done with the limited options available at this point.
According to Grantland's Zach Lowe, Brooklyn is going to be much more thoughtful with how they spend their money going forward. Could owner Mikhail Prokhorov actually be calming down on the money? The Nets paid a record high amount in luxury tax while losing a projected $144 million over the 2013-14 season. It is wise to calm things down in free agency.
The Nets have been linked to several players. They could sign Lance Stephenson, but only at a price cut. Jimmer Fredette is available and would come cheap. Xavier Henry is also an option. He had a career-high season last year for the Los Angeles Lakers along with Wesley Johnson. Brooklyn will likely grab at least one more player, but do not expect them to be a high-profile name.
