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Signing Paul Pierce may be Doc Rivers’ best move for Clippers

By Nate Head

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May 9, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce (34) celebrates with injured Wizards guard John Wall (L) and Washington Wizards forward Martell Webster (M) after making the game-winning basket against the Atlanta Hawks as time expired in the fourth quarter 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

It was perhaps the best move Doc Rivers has made so far as team president of the Los Angeles Clippers. Matt Barnes’ departure from Los Angeles via trade brought the team Lance Stephenson, and better yet, it allowed the Clippers to expand its wing player rotation by clearing the way to sign 10x All-Star Paul Pierce and league veteran Wesley Johnson.

Rivers was thinking ahead when he made the Barnes-Stephenson deal. At the time, Paul Pierce’s future in Washington was still up in the air, as many questioned whether he would opt out of his contract prior to July’s deadline or not. Nonetheless, when he did so in the closing days of June, there certainly weren’t many people who were surprised.

If anyone was even the slightest bit bemused that Pierce elected to sign with his old pal Doc Rivers in free agency to play in a big market like Los Angeles, on a team that was on the cusp of the Western Conference finals last year, I would be nothing short of puzzled.

Pierce was the Clippers’ missing piece of last season’s playoff jigsaw.

Los Angeles’ gut-wrenching exit from the postseason—they let a 3-1 series lead over Houston slip away—was all Matt Barnes’ fault. Totally kidding. But, the fiery 35 year-old forward’s struggles in the closing three games of the series simply cannot be overlooked.

In those crucial contests, Barnes averaged 24.7 minutes a game, but shot just 22.7 percent from the field, including a disastrous display from three-point territory, where he was 2-for-13.

Meanwhile, Pierce tore it up for Washington in their second round matchup against Atlanta.

May 9, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce (34) celebrates with Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) after making the game-winning basket against the Atlanta Hawks as time expired in the fourth quarter 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

In the final three games of the Wizards’ 2014-15 campaign, Pierce averaged 30 minutes a game. He shot an impressive 41.4 percent from the floor, and found success from distance, netting 9 of 20 attempts from deep.

Offensively for the Clippers next year, the bottom line is this: their trio of offensive threats (Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan) will continue to draw extra attention from defenders, which increases floor spacing to create more quality looks from distance for shooters — an aspect Pierce has thrived off his entire career. He may be 37 years old, but he is still deadly from long range (making 38.9 percent of his threes this season) and has proven his ability to drain decisive jumpers on countless occasions.

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On defense, however, in comparison to Pierce, Barnes is better than Bruce Bowen in his prime, who earned the reputation of a lockdown defender for his efforts during his modest 14 year career.

Defense is where Wesley Johnson comes in to play. Pierce is still gritty, but defending has never been his strongest attribute. Johnson is incredibly athletic, and listed at 6’7″, his wingspan exceeds seven feet with ease. In addition to giving Pierce rest, the veteran swingman will provide defensive stability (for a Clippers team that only ranked 15th in defensive efficiency this year).

While I am far from ready to deem him the next Pat Riley, there is no doubt that this move by Rivers will improve his team.

Next: It's official: Clippers have signed rookie Branden Dawson

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