NBA: Pierce joins Wizards

The Wizards did not disclose details of the deal, but The Washington Post reported it is for two years and a full mid-level exception of $10.8 million.

 

"We are very happy to welcome Paul to our organization and add his championship experience and history of clutch play to our team," Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said. "He will be a good fit alongside our young, dynamic backcourt while his presence and leadership will make a difference for us both on and off the court."

 

Pierce said earlier that he left the Brooklyn Nets after one season for Washington because he believed the Wizards have opportunity to contend for a championship. The Wizards reached the playoffs last season and advanced to the second round for the just the third time since 1979.

 

"Washington got better," said Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd, who coached Pierce with the Nets last season, during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas earlier this week. "You've got a veteran guy who understands what it means to be a professional, comes to work every day and understand what it takes to win a championship. ... He won't have any problems (fitting with the Wizards). He'll be fine."

 

The 10-time NBA All-Star played in 75 games for the Nets last season and averaged 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists game, shooting 45.1 percent from the floor and 37.3 percent from 3-point range.

 

The addition of Pierce comes on the heels of the Wizards losing forward Trevor Ariza, their top 3-point shooter last season, to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.

 

The 36-year-old Pierce spent a majority of his career with the Boston Celtics before a nine-team trade sent him to Brooklyn along with longtime teammate Kevin Garnett last summer.

 

In 1,177 career games for Boston and Brooklyn, Pierce averages 21.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals. The 6-foot-7 forward's 25,031 points rank 18th in NBA history and fourth among active players behind only Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and Garnett. He also is fifth in NBA history in 3-point field goals made (1,935) and fourth in 3-point attempt (5,228).

 

The high point of Pierce's career was helping the Celtics win the NBA title in 2008 and being named the MVP of the Finals.

 

Earlier this week, the Wizards re-signed center Marcin Gortat to a five-year, $60 million contract. — Reuters - The Sports Exchange