next »

[saltlover]

Why would the Hawks trade for Pierce in order to "drop him", when they can just let Smith expire?

Because the Hawks would like to get draft picks and one of our young cheap contracts (Sully, Bradley, Melo) to go along with Pierce to get something long-term for Smith while maintaining a lot of cap flexibility.  They've got barely $20 mil committed next year, and don't want to mess that up too much while getting other things for Smith.

Well they aren't getting Bradley. Melo isn't enticing and Sully is what he is, a talented but unathletic injured undersized PF. Neither Melo or Sully or our non-lottery pick are that great of assets.

Pierce makes more than Smith this year, costing ATL more money this year and that buyout (have heard some say $4M, some say $5M) would count against their cap next year. If they don't want to mess with their flexibility in the summer, they definitely don't want to shrink their cap space by wasting $4-5M for nothing.

I guarantee you they want Pierce because of his $5 mil buyout (it was $4 mil if he didn't meet playing time thresholds, which he did.)  Rumor has it they want a young center back with any deal for Smith, so both Sully and Fab could qualify.  Smith makes $13 mil this year -- it's hard to find that much expiring to match, so they want to minimize what they get back, since they probably won't be able to negate it all.

[scaryjerry]

Would you get back together with your long term girlfriend after she dropped you for a younger, better lookin rich guy for a half a year or weigh your other options?

Yeah, this is disrespectful to pierce

[kgainez]

Why would the Hawks trade for Pierce in order to "drop him", when they can just let Smith expire?

no clue why people keep coming up with this scenario lol
IF the hawks really want PP, they want him for his veteran leadership.

[Rondoholic]

If PP is traded at the deadline, and his new team waives him this offseason to save the 11 or so million (taking on only the partially guaranteed portion of his deal), is there anything that would prevent him from re-signing with BOS on a cap friendly deal/MLE this summer?

[pearljammer10]

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=62988.0

[pearljammer10]

No.

[perks-a-beast]

I don't know of any team in the league that would waive Pierce, even with his current salary, he's still way too valuable.

[Geo123]

Why would the Hawks trade for Pierce in order to "drop him", when they can just let Smith expire?

Exactly.  People need to be realistic.  The Hawks will get good value for Smith and even 1 year of Pierce (if they kept him next year) isn't good value. 

[kozlodoev]

Why would the Hawks trade for Pierce in order to "drop him", when they can just let Smith expire?

Exactly.  People need to be realistic.  The Hawks will get good value for Smith and even 1 year of Pierce (if they kept him next year) isn't good value.

The Hawks want prospects, picks, and an expiring deal. Pierce may be considered expiring because of his option, but that's a long shot, to say the least (not to mention that our ability to include picks and prospects is limited, to say the least).