The Brooklyn Nets made big moves last offseason in hopes of winning an NBA title this season, but the team failed to do so as they were eliminated by defending champions Miami Heat.
The Nets' early exit in the 2014 NBA Playoffs created speculations that fans might have seen the last of veterans Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in Brooklyn.
According to reports, Garnett could decide to walk away from his $12 million guaranteed contract next season, and the veteran power forward's decision is expected to have an impact on the future of Pierce, who will become a free agent this summer.
"Assumptions that Garnett, who turns 38 next week, will retire after his least productive season are just that. No one really knows yet and KG has to consent to walk away from $12 million guaranteed next season, as well as walk away from Pierce, if he really intends to forego his 20th NBA season," ESPN's Marc Stein wrote.
And if Garnett decides to call it quits, Stein noted that Pierce could decide to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers and reunite with his former coach Doc Rivers, which will also be some sort of a homecoming for the veteran forward.
"If Garnett decides it's time to stop, Pierce is bound to be intrigued even more by the scenario that is said to be on his radar already: Reuniting with Doc Rivers in Clipperland in what would also be a homecoming for the Los Angeles native," Stein wrote.
It remains to be seen, though, whether or not the Clippers will be interested in signing Pierce, considering the fact that they already have a stacked roster.
But if the Clippers decide not to put themselves in the running for Pierce, the 36-year-old veteran could consider returning to Boston Celtics or signing with his other home-town team, the Los Angeles Lakers.
"Pierce could also elect to return to Boston as a free agent to set himself up to retire a Celtic, or maybe even sample life back home as a Laker, or pick out another one of the many teams bound to be interested in his veteran know-how," Stein wrote.
