Brooklyn Nets general manager Billy King has revealed that veteran Paul Pierce became too expensive for the franchise to re-sign him.
The 36-year-old was widely expected to remain in Brooklyn with long-time teammate Kevin Garnett, but opted instead to join the Washington Wizards.
"That was the plan of attack, and when we started negotiations, the numbers they asked for were [too high], and I thought at one point he was definitely leaving," King said, according to the New York Post.
"So, you start switching gears because you start hearing he's going to end up some other place so you have to start preparing, and when he came back to us we had already moved on."
Having spent significantly on the likes of Pierce, Garnett and Joe Johnson last summer along with the salaries of point guard Deron Williams and center Brook Lopez, the Nets have been forced to reassess their position this year.
Sumeet Paul
