Paul Pierce reaches 3-year, $10.5 million deal with the Clippers

Free agent forward Paul Pierce has agreed to terms on a 3-year contract at the taxpayers' mid-level exception with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to multiple reports. ESPN's Marc Stein first reported that L.A. had won the Truthstakes. Per NBA.com's David Aldridge, the deal will pay $3.5 million per season. The third year is not guaranteed.

Pierce went to high school 10 miles from the STAPLES Center.

Pierce declined a $5.54 million option for the 2015-16 season with the Wizards in order to hit free agency again this summer. The move was made to give the forward an opportunity to consider various options, including a possible reunion with coach Doc Rivers in Los Angeles. While the Wizards spoke with Pierce as free agency opened and believed they had convinced him to stay in D.C., the Clippers convinced him to switch coasts.

The 37-year-old Pierce is coming off a season in which he averaged career lows in points (11.9), rebounds (4.0), assists (2.0) and minutes (26.2). He did, however, shoot 39 percent from behind the three-point line and hit numerous big shots for the Wizards during their postseason run. In the later stage of his career Pierce has emerged as a valuable veteran role player, one who can play both forward positions, help a team spread the floor and create offense when needed.

In Pierce the Clippers are getting a player who slides into their lineup perfectly. Look for Pierce to be playing with the team's starters on Day 1. Pierce is a much better shooter than the now-departed Matt Barnes and should allow the Clippers to have more offensive spacing than they've had in years. He's also still a smart and willing defender, one who will only make the Clippers' already stout defense even tougher. Adding a player who's actually won a championship to the locker room will be a big benefit to the Clippers as well.