Paul Pierce on departure from Nets: 'I think it all started probably with Jason (Kidd) leaving'

Last season's Brooklyn Nets were something of a disappointment. 

Even as they put together the best record in the Eastern Conference after the All-Star break and found themselves playing in the second round of the playoffs, the Nets fell short of expectations. (In fiscal terms, they were more like a flaming wreck.)  

Things didn't improve much in the offseason, as head coach Jason Kidd forced his way to the Milwaukee Bucks after a failed front-office power grab, and veteran swingman Paul Pierce signed with the Washington Wizards in free agency after not receiving a contract offer from Brooklyn. It was a sudden upheaval that both surprised and disappointed Pierce. 

"I definitely didn’t see all that coming," he said of the tumultuous offseason, according to Nets Nation's Andy Vasquez. "I think it all started probably with Jason leaving, it’s kind of like a domino from there … I was a little disappointed, because I thought I was going to come back there and Jason was one of the main reasons I came to Brooklyn, him and Kevin (Garnett).

"It just happened so fast. I had a chance to talk to him and he has his reasons, the way things went down … But like I said, the business – you’ve got to understand the business aspect of it. He moved on. The Nets moved on and people went their different directions." 

While Garnett, Pierce's friend and former Boston Celtics teammate, will return for another (possibly final) season with the Nets, Pierce will play for his third team in three years. 

"I was a little surprised, but you’ve got to be ready for the business side of it and understand that part," said Pierce. "So it didn’t shock me. No hard feelings, I understand their situation, they understand mine, and both parties moved on."