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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 8: NBA Legend Paul Pierce attends the game between the LA Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers on March 8, 2020 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
via Getty
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 8: NBA Legend Paul Pierce attends the game between the LA Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers on March 8, 2020 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Could Paul Pierce have avoided one of his teammates’ trades during his time in the Boston Celtics? Most will remember the major change the Celtics made in its roster in the mid-2010 NBA season. For those who don’t, the Celtics traded their 2008 NBA champ Eddie House and two other players to the New York Knicks. Appearing on the ‘Truth Lounge Show’, House has now stated Pierce could have prevented this, but he did not make an attempt.
The 45-year-old believes that Paul Pierce did not veto his trade to the Knicks and rather got Nate Robinson on the roster. “He (Pierce) didn’t veto the trade. You agreed on the trade… Now he coming to the left. He agreed on that trade,” House said on the ‘Truth Lounge Show’. On being asked by Pierce who they got, House replied with “Nate Robinson”.
It is worth mentioning the move during the mid-season was a shock to most of the fans. Moreover, the Celtics not only traded House but also JR Giddens and Bill Walker for Robinson and Marcus Landry. Even more surprising was the fact that this change took place within one night’s span. However, there were already some rumors about it going back then.
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House was playing with Celtics till February 16, 2010 and he was not on the roster from the next game. The move had disappointed multiple Celtics fans, as he was considered a decent three-point shooter for the Celtics. However, his declining performance could not prevent him from being traded.
A closer look at the Eddie House trade back in 2010 season
It is worth mentioning that House’s 3-point percentage in the 2009 season was 44.4. This declined to 38.3 in the 2010 season. It was also said back then that this trade was also a move by the Celtics to give its players a wakeup call. And this makes sense to some extent because the player who helped the team win the championship in 2008 got traded. This would have forced other players on the team to re-evaluate their game and shortcomings.
In February 2010, at a practice session, the then Celtics coach, Doc Rivers also explained why the change was made in mid-season. “We’re just trying to get better… Our goal is at the end of the year. We don’t want to be the best right now, we want to be the best later. We haven’t shown anyone we can do that yet,” he said.
And it was not as if Robinson delivered an exceptional performance for the Celtics, but he managed a slightly higher 3-point shooting percentage at 41.4. But there was something that clicked for the Celtics as the team reached finals. However, they lost the championship to Kobe Bryant’s LA Lakers by a 4-3 series score. So looking back at the circumstances, it does not seem there was much Paul Pierce could have done for House.
