E-Mail This Article to a Friend Pierce-ing the armor Can the Celtics keep their man? BY RYAN STEWART

So the Red Sox are in first, the Revs are hot, the Patriots are about to kick off, and the Bruins are preparing to suit up, having kept Jumbo Joe Thornton in the fold. All’s well in Boston, then, right?

Wrong.

Because amid all these good times, there’s a storm brewing on Causeway Street, centered over the roof of the freshly minted TD Banknorth Garden.

I realize only a few people out there have been following the NBA. Those who have probably already recognize what kind of off-season the local hardwood team has been having. The Celtics have (again) traded Antoine Walker, this time for cash consideration, the rights to a European big man, and two guys (Joe Borchard and Qyntel Woods) who probably won't make any NBA roster. They have used what little money they have for free-agent spending on a $15 million contract for white stiff Brian Scalabrine. They have made no effort to re-sign Gary Payton, even though he doesn’t have anything left in the tank. Mark Blount still exists.

All this signals that, a full three seasons after they came within two games of the NBA Finals, the Celts’ youth movement is finally in full swing. The emphasis next year will be on the continued development of Ricky Davis, Tony Allen, Marcus Banks, Delonte West, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, and, most significantly, Al Jefferson, a guy who has a chance to be a franchise player down the line. It’s a team that will likely end up sitting and watching come playoff time, but also one that could be a force in the Eastern Conference in a year or two.

But all this cannot be good news if you’re Paul Pierce, a legitimate All-Star in his seventh season and the guy who was the best player on that ’02 team. He’s losing years of his career while waiting it out. He can help a team win a championship now. It’s hard not to imagine him wondering if he’ll ever get the chance again.

Celtics GM Danny Ainge has said he doesn’t want to trade Pierce. But Pierce hasn’t given the Celtics much reason to keep him. His numbers have been in steady decline over the past three years. And he didn’t show much character in the playoffs last year when he got involved in an altercation with Jamaal Tinsley and was ejected with seconds to go from a game the Celtics were leading by 1.

They went on to win, but the damage had been done, at least to Pierce’s reputation. He had never been known as a leader; that was Antoine’s job when the two played together in the old days. Now, even with Antoine around, he looked selfish and moody, not like the smiling trash-talker who could take over games at will during that 2001-’02 season.

But that’s also part of what makes this such a difficult situation: there are still fresh memories of Pierce’s success. Ainge and coach Doc Rivers weren’t with the team back in those days, but they definitely saw what a healthy, motivated, happy Paul Pierce can do for a team. And that’s why they won’t trade him if they don’t have to.

If Pierce doesn’t want to stay, however, he can force his way out. He has played against guys like Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter, who’ve both freely admitted to "dogging it" to earn a trade out of town. Pierce could do something similar.

Or maybe not. Maybe nothing will happen. But either way, it’s a situation that won’t go away easily. Once trade rumors start, they don’t stop until something decisive happens (just ask Manny Ramirez). The handful of remaining Celtics fans just hope it doesn’t get ugly and ruin this run of good times for Boston sports fans.

"Sporting Eye" runs Mondays and Fridays at BostonPhoenix.com. Ryan Stewart can be reached at rstewart[a]phx.com.