Celtics-Nets Commerce Revisited: How Paul Pierce’s Deal Paved the Way for the 2022 Finals

The Celtics’ run to the 2022 NBA Finals will take nine years.

Let’s go back to the beginning of June 2013 – Jason Tatum was 15, Jalen Brown was 16 and Paul Pierce had just finished his 15th season with the Celtics franchise. Weeks later, a one-night trade would end an era while sowing seeds for the future of high school students.

more: Why did Jason Tatum finish third in the 2017 NBA Draft?

In just nine short years, the Celtics were on the verge of turning that franchise-changing trade into the 18th championship in franchise history.

See how one deal on June 27, 2013 had a direct impact on the 2022 NBA Finals.

more: 2022 NBA Finals Preview

Celtics-Nets Commerce Revisited: How Paul Pierce’s Deal Paved the Way for the 2022 Finals

The 2012-13 NBA season was interesting. The Nets were in their first season in Brooklyn and the Celtics were coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Heat in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals.

Brooklyn finished the season 49-33 and scored the fourth-seeded East while Boston finished seventh with 41-40. (The Celtics season finale was canceled in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing.)

The Nets and Celtics were eliminated in the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs, showing that it was time for a change. The Brooklyn front office was ready to win right away, while Boston was ready to rebuild, setting the stage for a booming business.

2013 Celtics-Nets التجارة Trade Details

• Nets received: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, DJ White
• Celtics received: Keith Bogans, Marshawn Brooks, Chris Humphries, Chris Joseph, Gerald Wallace, 2014 first-round pick, 2016 first-round pick Right to swap 2017 first-round picks, 2018 first-round pick

In addition to five active players, Boston received four future picks from Brooklyn. Since the Nets’ success with their new core was short-lived, the franchise was close to among the worst in the league, making choices very valuable commodities.

• 2016: After the Nets finished with a record of 21-61, the Celtics picked Jaylen Brown with the third pick in the 2016 NBA Draft
• 2017: The Nets finished with a score of 20-62, and the Celtics exercise their choice trade-off, winning first place overall. Boston would drop to third, choosing Jason Tatum.
• 2018: The Nets finished 28-54 and the Celtics finished eighth in the 2018 NBA Draft. This selection was redirected to Cleveland as part of the trade that made Keri Irving a Celtic player.

more: From meltdown to breakout: Jason Tatum and Jaelyn Brown bring the Celtics back to the NBA Finals

Celtics and Nets since 2013

In the years since the deal was made, the Celtics only missed the playoffs once and made four appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals and one trip to the NBA Finals. The Nets missed the playoffs three times and won only two playoff series.