Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers said Wednesday that he doesn't want to overuse 37-year-old veteran Paul Pierce to preserve him for the playoffs.

Rivers, according to ESPN, doesn't know exactly how to utilize the veteran swingman and whether he would give him in the starting small forward spot that was vacated upon Matt Barnes' departure.

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He added that they were pondering on using him at power forward and their "experimentation" is going to be interesting and great.

Nonetheless, Rivers values the versatility and leadership Pierce adds to their team as a legitimate title contender.

Rivers got Pierce to sign a three-year, $10 million contract with the Clippers this offseason after the latter spent a year with the Washington Wizards.

While many assumed that Pierce was deciding on either joining the Clippers or returning to the Washington Wizards, Rivers said it wasn't the case. 

Pierce was actually choosing between going back to Boston or he finish his career in Los Angeles where he grew up.

Pierce seemed to like the idea of ending his career as a Celtic but retiring with the Clippers will allow him to play in his hometown along with the coach he won a championship with.

Not a bad way to end a Hall-of-Fame career, according to CBS Sports.

Pierce helped the Celtics win the NBA title in 2008, when he was also named MVP of the Finals.

Rivers said he was disappointed when Pierce chose to play for the Washington Wizards instead of the Clippers last summer  according to CBS Sports. .

Rivers joked that he wanted to smack Pierce over that one, but admitted they didn't have the money to give Pierce at that time. 

TagsLos Angeles Clippers, doc rivers, Paul Pierce, NBA Free Agency