2. Paul Pierce
After the LA Clippers added Paul Pierce, his role for the team was reasonably straightforward. He was primarily signed to develop the team’s young talent and occasionally provide a scoring boost off the bench.
Furthermore, his first season in LA went just as planned. He only averaged 6.1 points, but his experience and leadership kept him on the team. However, his second season with the Clippers was a significant sign that retirement was next on the list.
Conversely, Pierce was seemingly unstoppable during his prime. He was an efficient scorer at all three levels and an above-average rebounder and playmaker. That is more than what you can expect from a former tenth-overall pick.
Moreover, when glancing at his career, Pierce’s prime was definitely one to remember. From age 22 to 35, the Kansas product did not have a season under 18 points per game. Additionally, during this span, he was a ten-time all-star, four-time all-NBA, and won a championship and finals MVP in 2008.
Nonetheless, Pierce’s career slowly took a turn in 2013 after one of the biggest trades in NBA history. Once he set foot in Brooklyn, the ten-time all-star showed noticeable signs of aging when it came to scoring and defending the perimeter. Pierce may have played most of the season, but his impact was fading away.
Based on where Pierce started and how great he was, it is safe to say that his peak was long gone when he signed with the LA Clippers. It was a privilege to have a Hall of Fame star in a Clipper uniform, especially one that helped transform the game of basketball.