Grade The Trade: Sacramento Kings Send Thomas Robinson To The Houston Rockets by Michael Lingberg

Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

According to sources, the Brooklyn Nets have been in talks with the Boston Celtics over possibly acquiring Paul Pierce.

The Nets are offering Boston a package of Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks and a first-round draft pick.

If the Celtics do decide to part ways with Pierce before the February 21st trade deadline, then they will demand more from potential buyers than what the Nets are currently offering.

“The Celtics still highly value Pierce and it wouldn’t make sense to trade him for that kind of a package if they’re keeping Kevin Garnett,” one league source said. (RealGM)

Boston has shown interest in Mirza Teletovic and an additional first-round pick, if the Nets are serious about an offer.

Pierce has been with the Celtics since 1998, when he was drafted with the 10th overall pick. He’s one of only three players (Larry Bird, John Havlicek) to score 20,000 or points wearing Celtic green.

Even at 35 years of age, Paul is still putting up tremendous numbers, averaging 18.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists a game.

If I’m Team President Danny Ainge, and the Brooklyn Nets are knocking at my door for Paul Pierce, then the only names that would remotely interest me are Brook Lopez and Deron Williams.

I’m fully aware that, sooner or later, the Celtics are going to have to start looking towards a Pierce-less future. He’s not going to be around forever, so perhaps trading him while his value is high is the way to go.

With the way he’s currently playing, I’m sure Boston can find a better package of players/assets than an underachieving $12 million dollar forward in Humphries, a huge question mark in Brooks and some non-lottery draft picks.

That would smell of desperation.

I’m not from the Massachusetts area, but knowing how devoted the people are to their sports teams, and just how important “The Truth” has been to this franchise, I’d like to think that a large portion of the fan base would love nothing more than for Pierce to retire from the NBA just as he entered it.

As a Celtic.

Trading him away is bad enough, but to a division rival that you play four times during the regular season?

Thanks, but no thanks.

Next!

Chris Walder is the Editor of Sir Charles In Charge. You may follow him on Twitter at @WalderSports