Paul Pierce’s Family Reportedly Preparing to Leave Boston

The Boston Celtics will have their head coach back on the sidelines next season, but the face of the franchise could be gone this summer. GM Danny Ainge won’t say what the team’s plans for Paul Pierce are, but according to the Boston Globe, Pierce’s family is already packing up their stuff: “The Celtics have to decide by June 30 whether to buy out Pierce’s contract at $5 million. Ainge said the sides have not had discussions, but an NBA source said Pierce’s family is already beginning to prepare for relocation from Boston, assuming the Celtics will execute the buyout or trade his expiring contract in the offseason. Pierce struggled mightily during the playoffs, and Ainge was asked whether the longtime Celtic was injured. ‘Paul’s always battling little things,’ said Ainge. ‘I think Paul’s healthy, but he played so hard and carried such a heavy load. Paul had a terrific year this year, but in the playoffs, New York did a good job of taking away his strengths and taking advantage of some of our weaknesses. But I thought Paul had a terrific year.’ As for (Kevin) Garnett, he has two years left on his contract but is considering retirement. He turns 37 Sunday. ‘I don’t think I have the answers that Kevin will want,’ Ainge said. ‘So I’ve got to figure there’s a lot to do [before we talk], and I think there’s a lot of questions in Kevin’s mind, as there is every year, to determine whether he’s coming back. I’m not ready to answer everything that he will want to know.'”