National Basketball Association

LA Clippers: The problems if Paul Pierce doesn't retire

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Paul Pierce is still considering whether or not he should retire, but if he returns for the 2016-17 NBA season, there will be a host of problems for the LA Clippers.

Apr 13, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; LA Clippers forward Paul Pierce (34) looks on against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns won 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Paul Pierce is still torn as to whether or not he should retire. According to his LA Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, Pierce has been going back and forth when trying to decide if he should return for the 2016-17 NBA season, making it his 19th in the league.

Since last season came to a close, most of the reports surrounding Pierce have been that he’s “50/50” over making a return. He’s said so himself, although October is gradually approaching and we’re still none the wiser. Neither is Doc, and neither are the Clippers, which must add a level of impatience to the organization by now.

A more recent report from August said that Pierce is planning to play, but we still can’t be certain if he’s as indecisive as Doc says.

If Pierce opted for retirement and informed the team in the peak of free agency, they could have cleared his $3.5 million salary for 2016-17 and had a better understanding of how to complete the roster. But that’s all in the past now, and it quite frankly looks like the Clippers and their fans will be stuck with him for another year.

From Pierce’s standpoint, it makes some sense.

On the one hand, he could attempt to have a slight bounce back year after recording the worst performance of his career.

On the other hand, seeing as going out on a high has escaped him, why not stick around and keep collecting some extra money?

However, from a basketball standpoint, it’s all bad. Really bad. So, let’s delve into the exact reasons why.

Mar 20, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul Pierce (34) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans forward Luke Babbitt (8) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Poor three-point shooting

Let’s begin with something obvious.

All it takes is a working set of eyes and a quick trip onto Basketball Reference to see that Paul Pierce was a poor three-point shooter last season. Making his shots from beyond the arc at a 31 percent clip, down from 38.9 the year before and the third-lowest mark of his 18-year career, Pierce couldn’t be relied upon from deep at all.

It says a lot about his drop off in 2015-16 when you consider that level of efficiency for a player in his role. Rarely tasked with creating for himself (and for good reason), posting up smaller wings or simply being a popular target to pass to, Pierce was supposed to be the older guy who could stand back, spot up, and make threes in space. Essentially, the easiest job a player can have.

Even though Blake Griffin was out for 47 games in the regular season, playing with the Point God himself in Chris Paul, the league-leading three-point shooter in J.J. Redick, and having the benefit of DeAndre Jordan pick-and-rolls to gravitate defenders inside, Pierce’s job was simple.

He had space to work in and 59.9 percent of his shots were catch-and-shoot opportunities (per NBA.com).

But he made those catch-and-shoot attempts at a useless 31.9 percent rate.

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Overall, Pierce finished the year with a career-low 36.3 field goal percentage, the first time he’s fallen under 40 percent in 18 years.

After being so efficient in Washington in 2014-15 and having those weapons in the Clippers’ offense around him, it was a fair expectation that Pierce would maintain similar accuracy in L.A. Yet, that was never nearly the case.

If that wasn’t enough, Pierce finished the year with an offensive rating of 93 — the worst on the team bar Josh Smith, and by far the worst of any player who completed the full season with the Clippers.

In the playoffs against Portland, Pierce was even worse as the Clippers were left fighting without Paul or Griffin from Game 4 onwards. Even though he only made five appearances and averaged 10.8 minutes a night, Pierce was a complete non-factor on offense. He took just 12 shots and made two (16.7 percent), going 1-of-5 from three.

Of course, there’s a chance Pierce could increase his three-point percentage in 2016-17 if he stays for another year. Maybe, he’ll have a good spell of training this summer and find a little more success as Griffin returns.

But after such a woeful showing last season, there’s no reason to feel much promise that The Truth is a difference making marksman.

Mar 7, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews (23) is fouled by Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul Pierce (34) during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Terrible defense

To pile onto such a frustrating level of inefficiency is Paul Pierce’s defense. Which, like every part of his game, looked old, lost, and outplayed.

Spending 60 percent of his playing time at small forward and 40 percent at power forward, Pierce was used heavily as a small-ball four. Due to Griffin’s absence for so much of the season, that had to be the case as Luc Mabh a Moute started at the three, while Pierce was tasked with stretching the defense as the starting four.

Except, even though Luc made a startling impact thanks to his defensive efforts, Pierce dragged the team down.

Pierce was simply too slow and lacked the lateral quickness at an incredibly road worn 38 years old, and lacked the size, strength or quick explosiveness to hold opposing bigs away the post or compete on the boards.

The Clippers allowed 3.8 more points per 100 possessions when Pierce was on the floor because of it.

Even though a wing like Wesley Johnson could waver in his focus and intensity at times, he had some surprisingly strong spells of defense last season. And as for Luc, who should receive far more favoritism at small forward over Pierce now that Griffin is coming back, he was a far superior option. Alan Anderson (33), acquired this summer for the veteran’s minimum, is also far more agile defensively than Pierce.

As was the case for his offensive performance, Pierce couldn’t be relied upon on defense and he couldn’t match up against bigger opponents or keep up in a league loaded with hyper athletic forwards and faster, small-ball lineups.

Which leads me smoothly onto my next point.

Jan 31, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Wesley Johnson (33) celebrates after scoring during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Staples Center. The Clippers won 120-93. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Less playing time for better forward options

This obviously comes with the territory of Pierce staying for another year. It would be bad enough if the LA Clippers had an even worse small forward rotation and they were forced into playing Pierce out of necessity. If they had no other options and giving Pierce ample playing time was the only way to complete the roster, it would be frustrating, but at least more understandable given the situation.

But that’s not the case. The Clippers have a few small forward options, all of which are better than Pierce and don’t warrant losing minutes to a player who can’t shoot well or play defense.

Luc Mbah a Moute will likely continue as the starter, so providing that Doc doesn’t change his mind, Luc will receive priority over everyone else at small forward. There’s no denying that his lack of offensive impact and ability to space the floor (13 made threes last season) is a major negative, but his defense helped make up for that, and his impact at that end of the floor was greatly valued.

Opponents scored 4.9 fewer points per 100 possessions with Luc on the floor, so any minutes Pierce takes away from him is immediately detrimental.

Then there’s Wesley Johnson. Despite his shooting cooling off last season to a 33.3 percent mark from three-point range, he was still better than Pierce. He’s far more athletic to run the floor in transition, and he at least shot well from the corners (38.8 percent from the left corner and 50 percent from the right, per NBA.com). With some solid spells of defensive energy last season as well, Johnson is better than Pierce (what a surprise).

Finally, there’s the new guy: Alan Anderson. While there’s no way he takes the Clippers to another level or fixes the seemingly unfixable small forward issue, Anderson was pretty much the best wing they could have hoped to sign on a minimum deal after the Kevin Durant dream ended.

Anderson’s health history is a slight concern and he only appeared in 13 games last season due to an ankle injury. But he’s passable from three (34.5 percent for his career), can provide occasional bursts of scoring with that shooting and odd drives to the basket, and he’s a more energetic (and five years younger) defender than Pierce.

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If that wasn’t enough, the power forward options are also better. It’s where a slower Pierce is better suited for now at this lost point of his career, and Brandon Bass — a solid veteran who provides energy and a decent mid-range game — and Brice Johnson — a promising first round pick with length, athleticism, rebounding, help defense and a smooth mid-range release — can provide more energizing impact off the bench.

Even though he’ll need time to add strength and develop, seeing Johnson gain a few minutes at power forward would be a breath of fresh air over Pierce. A rookie getting a chance to become something is what the LA Clippers could use in spot minutes through the season.

If you couldn’t tell, I’m not remotely keen on Paul Pierce returning, Hall of Fame status and the respect for his character and career aside. He’s fallen off quickly and it’s hard to see any way back.

As far too much of a liability at both ends of the floor with a handful of better options, even if Doc limits his minutes, his potential return hurts the LA Clippers across the board.

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