The utilization of current players moonlighting as television analysts has been picking up steam in recent years.  The trend will make its way to the NBA on Friday night when Los Angeles Clippers veteran swingman Paul Pierce stops by the ESPN set to appear as a guest analyst on ESPN NBA Countdown:

NBA superstar and current Los Angeles Clipper Paul Pierce will join NBA Countdown charged by Dew– ESPN’s NBA pre-game show – as a guest analyst this Friday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. ET for the full 30-minute telecast. Pierce will provide insight and analysis on top storylines around the league and will help preview ESPN’s NBA doubleheader Friday evening.

Pierce will join host Sage Steele and analysts Doug Collins and Jalen Rose on the set. The NBA Countdown studio is located at ESPN’s Los Angeles Production Center, across the street from the Staples Center, where Pierce’s Clippers play home games.

It’s a great move by ESPN on getting some relevant, current insights from a player of Pierce’s magnitude.  It makes sense in a lot of ways.  It’s an off night for Pierce and the Clippers and all he has to do is basically walk across the street to the set.  And it could be a good way for The Truth to test the waters and see if a television career may interest him when his playing days are done.  He’s never been short of colorful soundbytes, so it could be a possibility.  If it works out, perhaps more Clippers and Lakers players take the short jaunt over to give the television thing a shot.  We all know the Lakers won’t have anything else to do come playoff time.