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Buck of the Irish

With training camp opening today, who are the players least likely to stay with their current team by the start of the season? The number one candidate would have to be Paul Pierce. Even though Danny Ainge insists that there is no truth to the rumors that Pierce is on the trading block, numerous GM?s claim that he is.

Boston has a young roster, so trading Pierce for anything other than a proven commodity would be a mistake. The main weakness point for the Celtics remains the center position, so trading pierce for someone like Jamaal Magloire would make a lot of sense for Boston. Currntly, Boston is packed at the wing position with Tony Allen, Ricky Davis, Delonte West, and rookie phenom Gerald Green. If pierce were to be traded over the course of the season, it will probably take place as we approach the trading deadline.

I think that Ainge will hold off on making the deal until Tony Allen fully recovers from his injury. What could expedite the trade is the development of rookie Gerald Green, who most experts have as winning rookie of the year award. If Green has a breakout season for the Celtics, much like fellow high-schooler Amare Stoudemire had for the Suns, Pierce is as good as gone.