Paul Pierce shared his bold prediction for this season’s NBA champion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vig33_Ow7Ro

Paul Pierce thinks the revamped Celtics will have multiple trips to the NBA Finals in the coming years, but the retired forward doesn’t think his former team is going to cash in just yet.

Speaking on ESPN’s “The Jump,” Pierce shocked host Rachel Nichols with his unexpected pick for this season’s NBA champion.

“The Oklahoma City Thunder will raise the Bill Russell-Larry O’Brien trophy this year, with Russell Westbrook being the MVP,” the basketball analyst stated with great affirmation.

His hot take generated some surprise from Nichols — who replied “no” in disbelief as Pierce was speaking — and NBA columnist Jackie MacMullan, but the 40-year-old defended his prognostication. Pierce argued that the Houston Rockets will likely have a better regular-season record, while the Thunder will shine in the postseason.

“That’s not too off now, come on,” he said. “A lot of things could happen. One ankle sprain away.”

MacMullen offered an equally shocking prediction of her own for the upcoming season, which tips off on Tuesday with the Celtics and Cavaliers.

“Anthony Davis is going to end wearing Celtics’ green,” she said. “A lot of things would have to happen for it to go through, but I’m just going to say I’m not convinced that the Boogie Cousins-Anthony Davis la la land — and poor [Rajon] Rondo now out with his hernia — that that’s all going to work out as a happily ever after situation.”

“At some point, Anthony Davis is going to look up and say, ‘My career is starting to tick off here. I need to go some place where I can have an impact,'” MacMullan continued.

In July, The Vertical’s Chris Mannix said that if things don’t go as planned in New Orleans, then the consensus is that Boston will “make a strong run at Davis.”