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The importance of Paul Pierce to the Celtics history and tradition cannot be overemphasized. He is a Celtic true and true in every sense of what it means to be a Celtic and he deserves all the accolades that come with his great history of service tothe Celtics organization. The Celtic team is now at a similar crossroad to the one it faced when the last dynasty of Bird McHale and Parish got old. Back then the team stayed loyal to the stars and refused to trade them and start rebuilding for another dynasty. The result of this was a double decade drought of excellence that is the very mark of this organization.

Whether we choose to accept it or not the team we love has now reached this crossroad again, and decisions have to be made. There is a division amongst the fan base regarding the trading of our most valuable trading piece - our captain Paul Pierce. There is a contingent of fans that believe PP should be untouchable when it comes to trades, and there is the other group thatbelieves anyone can be traded. I offer a different perspective, one that was advanced decades ago by a great son of Massachusetts, John Fitzgerald Kennedy,' ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country '.

Paul Pierce has been great for the Celtics and for that we must be grateful, but his service and dedication were not performed gratis. He has been rewarded handsomely for his dedication and loyalty to the Celtics. The question PP must ask himself now is how does he want to see the Celtics in the years after he retires. Does he want his number lifted to the rafters in front of a great Celtics team, or one that is garbage? Does he care about what happens to the Celtics once he retires, or is he going to just retire and not worry about the team he loves for now.

If PP really loves the Celtics, then he should take the burden off the team and approach management to let them know that he is okay with a trade as long as it helps the team in the long run. As long as it helps him to return to the garden for years to come to watch a winning team. This is the greatest gift he can give the team at this time, and on this president's day weekend it is in the spirit of that clarion call from President Kennedy to his compatriots.

I don't know why more superstars don't do this, it is selfless and putting your team first. If the team decides that they would rather go forward with the superstar, then at least the star would be satisfied that it was the team's choice.