With Kidd leaving Brooklyn, Pierce may be open to exit too.
The Los Angeles Clippers reportedly believe that they have a genuine chance of signing veteran forward Paul Pierce from the Brooklyn Nets this summer.
According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Clippers will look to take advantage of the uncertainty at the Barclays Center, after Jason Kidd left the franchise to take a new coaching role with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Kidd was understood to have requested more responsibility beyond his coaching duties within the franchise, but it was rejected and soon after the Bucks were granted permission to talk to him.
As a result, Pierce will undoubtedly consider his options this summer after the Nets failed to bring immediate success with an expensively assembled roster last year, which included the likes of Kevin Garnett and Deron Williams.
Pierce has of course previously played under Clippers coach Doc Rivers with the pair winning a title together during their spell with the Boston Celtics, and Rivers has proven during his short time in Los Angeles that he is open to working with his former players.
Meanwhile, it will also likely be beneficial to his team after Jared Dudley struggled at the three last season, and the Clippers need someone who can space the floor from three in order to allow Blake Griffin and Chris Paul more opportunity to dictate a game.
However, the Clippers are likely to face competition for Pierce should he decide to leave Brooklyn, with the Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets all said to be monitoring the situation closely.
In a knock-on effect, it is understood that Pierce will play a big role in whether or not Garnett returns with the Nets next season or decides to hang up his playing shoes and retire from the game.
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