Paul Pierce tells LeBron James to take the Cleveland road
Paul Pierce told TMZ Sports that Cleveland, not Boston, is the cleanest landing spot for LeBron James as his NBA future remains undecided.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
Paul Pierce has a blunt bit of roster advice for LeBron James: if the next move is still on the table, Cleveland is the place to be.
The Boston Celtics legend told TMZ Sports that he sees the Cavaliers as the best fit for James, who has kept the league waiting while he weighs where to play next after parting ways with the Los Angeles Lakers.
TMZ Sports spoke with Pierce at Derek Fisher’s 3rd Annual Be Better Foundation Celebrity Golf tournament and asked where he would like to see the four-time NBA champion land.
“I think his best fit is Cleveland,” Pierce said, according to TMZ Sports.
That answer puts Pierce firmly in homecoming territory. James has already had two runs with the Cavaliers, the franchise he led to the 2016 NBA title, and TMZ Sports reported that Cleveland is among the teams being discussed as his next possible stop.
TMZ Sports also reported that the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors have been part of the ongoing chatter around James’ next team.
One place Pierce did not want to entertain was his old basketball home. When TMZ Sports asked about Boston as a possible destination, Pierce cut off the idea fast.
“No, we don’t want him on the Celtics,” Pierce said, according to TMZ Sports.
The line lands with extra bite coming from Pierce, who won the 2008 NBA championship with the Celtics and remains closely tied to the franchise’s modern title era. His message was clear: Cleveland can have the reunion talk, Boston is not asking for it.
Pierce also brushed off criticism aimed at James for taking his time with the decision. TMZ Sports asked about people knocking the former Lakers star for not signing sooner, and Pierce said James has earned room to move on his own clock.
“He can do whatever he wants at this stage,” Pierce told TMZ Sports. “His decision is his decision, man. I’m not holding my breath waiting on him to make a decision. Whatever decision he makes is gonna be the right one.”
The James watch has already stretched for weeks, and the list of rumored destinations gives fans in several cities something to chew on. Pierce, though, is not pretending to be stressed about the delay.
TMZ Sports also asked Pierce about the idea of getting his own championship crew back together after James recently took a reunion trip with members of the 2016 Cavaliers team to Saint-Tropez.
Pierce said a 2008 Celtics reunion trip has not happened, but he would be open to it.
“We haven’t, but it’s something I would be up for,” Pierce said, according to TMZ Sports.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.