Paul Pierce agreed in principle to a three-year deal worth approximately $10.5 million with the Los Angeles Clippers late Wednesday, according to multiple reports.
A Los Angeles native, Pierce will rejoin Doc Rivers, who coached Pierce on the Boston Celtics for nine seasons ending in 2013, when Rivers left for Los Angeles and Pierce was traded to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Celtics went 416-305 with Pierce and Rivers together, making seven playoff appearances in nine seasons and winning a championship in 2008. Pierce averaged 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists and was named Finals MVP.
The 37-year-old Pierce averaged 11.9 points and four rebounds in 73 regular-season games with the Wizards last season, but his most valuable contributions came in the playoffs.
He averaged 14.6 points and 4.2 rebounds and was the Wizards’ go-to guy in clutch situations, connecting on several shots in late-game scenarios — including his game-winning 3-pointer in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Atlanta Hawks.
Pierce chose to decline his player option to return to the Wizards last week.
NBA.com and Yahoo! Sports were the first to report Pierce’s signing.
• Dan Roth can be reached at droth@washingtontimes.com.
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