2014 NBA Free Agency Rumors & Predictions: Paul Pierce Still Wants $ 9 Million? Is There A Team That Will Give It To Him? Former Celtics Star On The Decline!

Paul Pierce is on the queue for 2014 NBA Free Agency Rumors & Predictions but he has reportedly named his price. The truth is, he might not be able to get it. But stranger things have happened.

Paul Pierce used to be a franchise player, the face of the Boston Celtics, one of the fabled teams in the NBA. He led the team for most of his career but often came up short. Only when the Big Three was assembled did he manage to snare his one and only title.

He was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets last season as a possible final title chase. However, things did not go according to plan. Almost all the stars on that team got injured or regressed.

Paul Pierce averaged 13. 5 points, 4 rebounds and 2.4 assists-all career lows (data from Basketball Reference) and there's no indication that it will turn around.

So we can't blame the Nets front office for this (From ESPN):

"The Nets would like to pay Pierce around $6-8 million per season on a short-term contract, sources say.

Pierce, however, as first reported by Sports Illustrated and confirmed by ESPNNewYork.com, would like to be paid around $9-10 million."

Paul Pierce's representatives have told teams Pierce is seeking a two-year contract in the $9-10 million per year range, per sources.

— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) July 7, 2014

Nets GM Billy King had an interview on ESPN New York 98.7 FM's "The Michael Kay Show:"

"I think we're in the process [of negotiations]. We know the number we want to get to, I think [Pierce and his agent] know the number they want to get to. We're just trying to get to the point where we're all comfortable and I know what we're trying to accomplish, and it's just in the negotiation process. That's all it is. We have the ability to pay him more than everybody else, but we are going to be a little bit more financially responsible at this point in time."

There could be a team that might overpay him. The desperate team with cap space that struck out on everyone else. But the current wave of thinking is to keep the cap space and tank for next year. Hard to say this, but The Truth should be more realistic.