Report: Warriors Turned Down Trade For Paul Pierce At Deadline

The Golden State Warriors reportedly turned down a trade for Rudy Gay earlier this season, and now reports are surfacing that they turned down a trade for the expiring contract of Paul Pierce, as well.

Grantland's Bill Simmons is reporting that the Warriors declined a trade that would send Harrison Barnes, and either Richard Jefferson or Andris Biedrins, to the Celtics for Paul Pierce.


Pierce will be a free agent after the season.

"Warrants mentioning: The Warriors turned down Pierce from Boston in February for Harrison Barnes and a 2014 expiring contract (either Andris Biedrins or Richard Jefferson). I would have done it because they would have been selling super-high on the disappears-way-too-much Barnes (notice he didn't even make "honorable mention") and Pierce would have made them a short-term contender. Could you go to small-ball war against OKC with Curry, Jack, Pierce, Thompson and David Lee? Actually, I think you could. I'd rather have Pierce's final four years then Barnes's next 10, anyway."

The Warriors have made it clear that they feel Barnes will amount to a very productive player in the NBA, and while Pierce would have made Golden State a better team talent-wise, Barnes is a part of the future of the team.

Barnes' NBA ceiling is higher than the probability of Pierce re-signing with the Warriors next season if the trade ever went through.