Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce has decided to play next season but is expected to bypass his $5.5 million player option, according to two people with knowledge of the situation. The decision, which is due by the end of the month, would make Pierce a free agent for the second straight year. Opting out opens the possibility of Pierce playing his 18th NBA season elsewhere but does not completely eliminate the prospect of Pierce returning to Washington. Pierce could choose to re-sign. The most probable destination outside of the District would be to go back home to play for the Los Angeles Clippers and reunite with Doc Rivers, his coach for nine seasons with the Boston Celtics. Los Angeles has limited salary cap flexibility and will likely only be able to offer Pierce, who celebrates his 38th birthday in October, the taxpayer mid-level exception of $3.37 million for next season, but are closer to winning a championship than the Wizards even in the loaded Western Conference. Pierce nearly joined the Clippers last summer but Rivers, also the organization’s president of basketball operations, elected to give the Clippers’ entire midlevel exception to center Spencer Hawes. The move was a debacle and Hawes, along with Matt Barnes, was traded to the Charlotte Hornets for swingman Lance Stephenson last week. Rivers then revealed he prefers Stephenson coming off the bench and is in the market for a starting small forward. That is where Pierce would slot. Pierce averaged career lows in points (11.2) and minutes (26.2) and was a defensive liability at times in a diminished role last season, but provided the leadership the Wizards sought and became a fan favorite in the District with a memorable postseason performance. - See more at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...o-his-wizards-option-and-become-a-free-agent/
