Former Boston Celtics icon Paul Pierce didn't doubt the organization, despite appearing to be in dire straits following Kyrie Irving's departure, seemingly with no contingency plan.
The Truth wasn't all that worried about the Celtics missing out on a disgruntled Irving, even before they were rumored to be on the lead for his replacement, Kemba Walker.
“I never thought they were in a bad position, even with Kyrie leaving,” Pierce told Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald. “I mean, you’ve still got a chance to develop the young guys. And I think Kemba Walker is a great pickup. They’re still a threat in the East. But even before they signed Kemba, I thought they were all right.”
The definition of “all right” varies, depending on the perspective. If “all right” means not bordering New York Knicks-type of chaos, sure — but there is no way the Celtics could have been a threat in the East without Irving — even less so after the departures of Al Horford and Terry Rozier.
Regardless, Pierce is optimistic about Walker's chances to get along with the young roster and him being a better fit that Irving was during his short two-year stint with the team.
“Who knows if Kemba’s going to be the right fit, because it’s always about more than basketball. It’s about how you get along with your teammates and how the chemistry is. And that’s a strength of Kemba’s, so hopefully it’ll work out.”
If Walker is at least half the drama Irving brought along this past season, the Celtics should manage to move a lot more harmoniously, even if they lost two capable players in Horford and Rozier this offseason.
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