Celtics News: Paul Pierce Says Rondo Trade Creates "New Era" For Boston

The Boston Celtics traded point guard Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks last week, cutting ties with the last piece of their 2008 championship team.

Wizards forward Paul Pierce, who was a centerpiece of that Celtics team that made to Finals appearances in 2008 and 2009, wasn't surprised to see the franchise deal Rondo.

“It was either ‘We’re going to build around him’ or ‘We’re going to build for the future,’” Pierce said. “That’s what most teams do. When you have a star player, an all-star-caliber player and if you aren’t able to put the other star players around him or you have other young guys, you’re either going to build with him or you build without him. So you’re going to have to figure one of the two is going to happen and since they probably couldn’t find the necessary pieces to put around him, they decided to move forward and build around the young pieces that they have.”

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Pierce understands the business reality of the NBA, as he was dealt to the Brooklyn Nets after spending the first 15 years of his career with Boston.

"We’re not going to see one player with one franchise for that long.”

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