Paul Pierce turns 37 in October and isnt quite the offensive force he was when he was leading the Boston Celtics to the champion

Paul Pierce turns 37 in October and isnt quite the offensive force he was when he was leading the Boston Celtics to the championship seven years ago. Custom Boston Red Sox Jerseys . The old man showed last year in Brooklyn that he still knows how to knock down a clutch shot and grind out a playoff series victory, which made the up-and-coming Washington Wizards eager to add the man known as "The Truth." Pierce and the Wizards agreed to terms on a two-year deal on Saturday night, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press. The deal is for the mid-level exception, which is about $5.3 million for next season, and includes a player option in the second year of the contract. The person requested anonymity because the Wizards have not officially announced the signing. "Welcome the truth (at)paulpierce34 to DC....wizkids!!" Wizards point guard John Wall tweeted. After spending the first 15 seasons of his career in Boston, Pierce is on the move for the second straight summer in a deal first reported by ESPN, and the Wizards couldnt be happier. Wall and Bradley Beal have formed one of the most exciting young backcourts in the league, and they helped the surprising Wizards to their first playoff series victory since 2005. Looking to build on that momentum, the Wizards have already brought back coach Randy Wittman, signed centre Marcin Gortat to a five-year, $60 million and brought back veteran point guard Andre Miller. One player it appears they werent able to retain is swingman Trevor Ariza, who agreed to a four-year, $32 million deal with the Houston Rockets, according to several reports, including USA Today. "I want to thank (at)WashWizards (owner) (at)TedLeonsis ... for two great years," Ariza tweeted. "I will (always) be grateful for you guys. Much love... To my lil bros (at)John--Wall and (at)RealDealBeal23 stay on that grind love yall boys. .wizkids .respect." It didnt take long for the Wizards to rebound. Now those "Wiz kids" have another big brother to help show them how to take the next step. Pierce averaged a career-low 13.5 points last season in his first year with the Nets. But he is a 10-time All-Star who has gained a reputation as one of the best big-moment players in the league. Pierce doesnt have a game that relies on extreme athleticism or quickness. Its predicated more on instincts and an ability to initiate contact to create space to get off that trademark high-arching jump shot, which should allow him to remain effective longer than other players who lose some of the juice in their legs as they get older. "I would like welcome Paul Pierce to The Wizards family. Were going to have a great run," Gortat tweeted. "Its going to be an honour to play with such an amazing player." It also further underlines the major disappointment in Brooklyn. The Nets gave three first-round draft picks to the Celtics last summer to bring Pierce and Kevin Garnett in and make a run at a championship. But a team that cost owner Mikhail Prokhorov about $190 million after luxury tax payments got off to a horrid start to the season, beat the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs and then were dismissed in the Eastern Conference semifinals by the Miami Heat. Coach Jason Kidd lost a power struggle with Nets management and wound up in Milwaukee and now Pierce is gone as well. Craig Kimbrel Jersey . LOUIS -- The Atlanta Braves used a two-run rally in the ninth to end their road trip with a win. Dustin Pedroia Jersey .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks take aim at their longest winning streak of the season on Sunday when they host the Calgary Flames in a battle at the United Center. http://www.theredsoxteamshop.com/Red-Sox-Christian-Vazquez-Kids-Jersey/ . Dwyane Wade followed a few days later.LONDON - Is it any wonder Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi still set the goal-standard in football? Ascending to their level, or getting anywhere near their scoring rate, seems beyond most contemporaries.Particularly for the strikers whose hype and profiles eclipse their prowess in front of goal. And especially for some of the big names who switched clubs in the summer transfer window in search for a career reboot or club upgrade.Luis Suarez stepped up from Liverpool to Barcelona but is yet to raise his own game.Arriving as English footballs player of the season and the Premier Leagues top scorer, goals should have been a given for Suarez, even with his unpredictable temperament. While Barca has been untroubled by Suarezs conduct, goalkeepers have been similarly untroubled by his once-lethal shots.Since making his debut in October, after completing a four-month ban for biting at the World Cup, the 27-year-old Suarez has gone seven league games without scoring, netting only twice in the Champions League.Although Suarez has five assists in 10 games and his reputation doubtless unsettles defenders, which helps Messi and Neymar, the 81 million-euro (then $110 million) outlay was intended to guarantee goals.I came here to score goals, not only to makes passes for others to score, Suarez said last week in an interview with Barcelona newspaper Sport. If I came here its because I have scored many goals in my career and, above all, in Liverpool.Liverpool does not need reminding of what it has lost.The transfer windfall was quickly reinvested. Just not on a proven world-class scorer.The 32-year-old Rickie Lambert was brought in from Southampton to the club he supported as a boy after rising through Englands four professional leagues. Although mostly deployed from the bench, the 4 million-pound ($6 million) Englishman has not been the impact substitute desired as reflected by his record of two goals in 18 games.A gamble signing did not work either. Mario Balotelli has only replaced Suarez in one regard: as the Liverpool player bringing unwelcome attention from the Football Associations disciplinary department. Manager Brendan Rodgers wrongly thought he could tame the tempestuous Italian, who is facing an FA sanction for a racially offensive social media posting.While Suarez contributed 31 goals in all competitions last season as Liverpool finished second, Balotelli resembles the Barca Suarez — with no league goals for a team enduring its worst start in 50 years.AC Milan did well to persuade Liverpool in August to hand over 16 million pounds (then $27 million) for the former Manchester City player whose ascent as a sports star owes more to his public persona and antics than performances. Jimmie Foxx Jersey. owever, Milan has not had much more luck revitalizing former Anfield favourite Fernando Torres.Strikers shouldnt necessarily lose their finishing touch over the years, but the predatory instinct and pace can fade. Torres was one of the most prolific strikers in 2011 when Chelsea paid Liverpool 50 million pounds (then $80 million) for the Spaniard, and his decline has been alarming.He has struggled with injuries, Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani told Italys Sky television. We need to be patient.Chelsea had enough when it offloaded the Spaniard on an unusually long two-year loan to Milan after only 20 goals in 110 league appearances.The other big loan move in the summer window is looking as much as a dud.Manchester United committed to an outlay of around $25 million on Radamel Falcaos salary and fee for a season-long loan from Monaco, and yet the player is struggling to get on the pitch.Managing only eight appearances, the injury bulletins have been lengthier than any dispatches of his on-field contributions. Just one goal, for the record.Before a serious knee injury in January, the Colombian was scoring almost a goal every two games for Monaco.Perhaps his greatest contribution at United has been creating a buzz by making the surprising deadline-day move. Persuading him to come to Old Trafford seemed to reassure United of its status among the football elite after a season on the slide under David Moyes.On Sunday, in one of the biggest games of the year for United, he only made a late appearance from the bench in the 3-0 win over Liverpool despite being fit. Louis van Gaal preferred to start speedier 19-year-old academy graduate James Wilson.When raw, young talents find it so hard to break into English teams, given the penchant for spending on more eye-catching foreigners, it was a bold move by Van Gaal.But when the transfer window re-opens in January, its likely teams will continue to throw cash at players who can produce goals in the second half of the season.It does work sometimes. Arsenal and Chelsea are profiting from investments of around $50 million each on forwards last summer. Alexis Sanchez has 14 goals in four months for Arsenal and Diego Costa has two fewer for Chelsea.___Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris ' ' '