Clippers: Paul Pierce avoiding retirement only hurts L.A.

A lot has changed since the day he “called game.” Unfortunately for the Los Angeles Clippers, Paul Pierce playing for another season only hurts them.

It’s practically certain that Paul Pierce will be returning for his 19th NBA season with the Los Angeles Clippers. For The Truth of 2014-15, that would have been understandable and exciting news for the Clippers. A proven, championship-winning veteran with a never-ending clutch gene isn’t a bad player to have filling out the roster. For The Truth of 2015-16, though, a comeback is far more questionable and far more frustrating.

11.9 points and four rebounds per game, shooting 44.7 percent from the floor and making 38.9 percent of his threes. “Calling game” and banking in game-winners in the playoffs. That was 2015 Paul Pierce, a Paul Pierce that the Clippers wanted to sign last summer that rightfully gave L.A. some excitement after he arrived.

6.1 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, shooting a career-low 36.3 percent and making 31 percent of his threes. That’s the 2016 Paul Pierce that the Clippers will be getting back for another season, one that aged and dropped off more in a year than anyone expected.

At the very least, continuing his three-point efficiency and occasional clutch trend seemed like a reasonable expectation for Pierce when surrounded by a horde of talent led by Chris Paul. Even if such shooting is all Pierce could have been relied upon for last season, that would have been enough.

He’s a championship-winning, Hall-of-Fame-to-be locker room presence that brings valuable experience and know-how, and that combined with simple spot-up threes and catch-and-shoot looks from the corner is all he needed to contribute offensively. Along with the ability he displayed during his 2014-15 season with Washington to play as a small-ball power forward, he had what the Clippers were looking for.

Yet, outside of that locker room presence, they got none of it. Pierce played at the four — 40 percent of the time, to be precise — and he attempted 7.1 threes per 36 minutes to account for 61 percent of his total shot attempts, except he ended up being a complete liability at both ends of the floor.

To the dismay of Clippers fans everywhere, Doc Rivers still kept giving Pierce solid playing time as the season continued (partly thanks to Blake Griffin‘s injuries) and nothing improved. Pierce didn’t catch fire from three and he rarely scored in double-digits.

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As for his defense, a continued drop off in speed at 38 years old made him far too slow with far too little lateral quickness to match more athletic small forwards at the perimeter, while he had no explosiveness or strength to compete against tougher power forwards inside. It resulted in more easy opportunities for opponents than expected with Pierce on defense, resulting in teams scoring 3.8 more points per 100 possessions whenever he was on the floor.

Defense wasn’t even the intention for signing him, though. Some clutch play, a connection to Doc, veteran leadership for the playoffs, and effective three-point shooting to improve the team’s spacing was always the motivation behind signing Pierce to a three-year deal.

Instead, the Clippers were left with poor three-point shooting, the worst efficiency of his career, no defense, and his measly offensive rating of 93.

Dec 26, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6), forward Paul Pierce (34), and guard Chris Paul (3) watch from the bench during the second half against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Clippers won 109-104. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports /

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When Pierce can’t at least be a threat from beyond the arc, he doesn’t have any offensive value and makes no impact on the game. It also doesn’t take long to see that after being a far better defender in his younger days, such years are well and truly over.

Now, the Clippers are left in a similar position at the wing, heading forward with relatively underwhelming talent as per usual.

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Jeff Green left to the Orlando Magic on a one-year, $15 million deal, leaving the Clippers after they wasted a 2019 protected first-round pick in the trade to acquire him for a useless 27 games. Meanwhile, the remaining duo to carry the bulk of the load, Wesley Johnson and Luc Mbah a Moute, have both re-signed on the team’s mid-level exception and bi-annual exception, respectively.

Johnson is healthy again after playing through pain from plantar fasciitis all season, and Luc was a thoroughly pleasant surprise and steal for the minimum after performing as one of the Clippers’ top few perimeter defenders.

They both help the Clippers, far more so than their older Hall of Fame teammate.

The Truth has been defeated by Father Time. A comeback to positive, efficient form looks unlikely. Pierce heads into next season taking up $3.5 million in salary, a roster spot, and minutes from more deserving players, all while damaging the team’s performance at both ends of the floor.

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How times have changed. Sadly, Pierce can’t “call game” and keep up anymore.

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