Boston Celtics: 5 Best/Worst Trades in Team History
A trade can completely change the course of an NBA franchise, whether it be for the better or worse. As one of sports’ most storied and successful franchises, when we analyse the outcome of the trades the Boston Celtics have made it is much easier to find deals that have worked out in their favor than those that have not. In fact, the Celtics have made a number of deals that have resulted in multiple NBA championships while on the other side of the table there are very few deals that have had a considerable negative impact on the team. Here are the five best and worst trades in the History of the Boston Celtics.
The Best:
5. Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West and Jeff Green for Ray Allen and Glen Davis
In 2007, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge made the decision to pull the trigger and trade away the assets he had compiled while the Celtics had been struggling and go all in for an NBA championship. The first step was to trade Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West and the fifth overall pick, which later turned into Jeff Green, for All-Star sharpshooter Ray Allen and Glen Davis, who they took in the second round of the draft. Trading for Allen not only brought another star wing player to pair with Paul Pierce, but convinced Kevin Garnett to later approve a trade to the Celtics which would bring the team their 17th championship in 2008. Glen “Big Baby” Davis was also a solid contributor for the Celtics during his tenure with the team.
4. Rick Robey and two second-round draft picks for Dennis Johnson, a first-round draft pick and a third-round draft pick
In 1983, the Celtics traded Rick Robey, who had spent five seasons in Boston coming off the bench, to Phoenix for Dennis Johnson, along with the exchange of multiple draft picks. Robey was a career role player who went on to play just three more seasons after the trade, played no more than 61 games and did not average more than 5.6 points in a season. Meanwhile in Boston, Dennis Johnson became a Celtics cornerstone for seven seasons, starting nearly every game, making multiple All-NBA Defensive teams and was named an All-Star in 1985. Johnson, a former Finals MVP himself, went on to help the Celtics win the championship in both 1984 and 1986.
Kevin Garnett helped end the longest championship drought in Celtics’ History. Photo Credit: TheMikeLee, Flickr.com
3. Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair and a first-round pick for Kevin Garnett
After the deal for Ray Allen was complete, Kevin Garnett decided that he would approve a trade to Boston and the Minnesota Timberwolves dealt their franchise big man for Al Jefferson and a band of role players as well as a first round draft pick. Garnett, a former MVP, instantly changed the culture in Boston as the team went on to win the 2007-08 NBA championship on the back of him anchoring the league’s best defense. Garnett has had multiple All-Star selections since coming to Boston and was named the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year while the Timberwolves are yet to make the playoffs since he left.
2. Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan for Bill Russell
In 1956, Celtics general manager and coach Red Auerbach reluctantly traded away Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan for the first-round draft pick that would become Bill Russell. Macauley and Hagan both went on to have Hall of Fame caliber careers in their own right, but Russell’s arrival in Boston signaled the start of a dynasty. Russell would play his entire career in Boston, winning an unfathomable 11 NBA championships, and becoming the greatest winner the league has ever seen. A true legend and the heart and soul of the franchise even to this day, the Celtics became the storied franchise they are today because of the foresight and belief of Auerbach in the great Bill Russell.
1. Joe Barry Carroll and Rickey Brown for Robert Parish and Kevin McHale
In what could be considered the greatest trade steal in NBA history, once again Red Auerbach was instrumental in bringing Hall of Fame talent to the Celtics franchise and adding more championship banners to the rafters in the Boston Garden. In 1980, the Celtics traded the draft rights to Joe Barry Carroll and Rickey Brown for Robert Parish and the draft rights to Kevin McHale. Both players would spend more than decade in Boston, making a total of 16 All-Star games between them and playing an instrumental part in three NBA championships in 1981, ’84 and ’86.
The Worst:
5. Kenny Anderson, Joseph Forte and Vitaly Potapenko for Vin Baker and Shammond Williams
In 2002, the Celtics made a trade for troubled big man Vin Baker as they dealt Kenny Anderson, Joseph Forte and Vitaly Potapenko to Seattle. Baker would not last long as a Celtic and after numerous off-court issues and violating the terms of his alcohol agreement he was released by the team in 2004.
4. Chauncey Billups and Dee Brown for Kenny Anderson, Popeye Jones and Zan Tabak
In 2002, the Celtics traded a rookie Chauncey Billups along with Dee Brown to the Toronto Raptors for Kenny Anderson, Popeye Jones and Zan Tabak. Billups is still in the league 16 seasons later and has had a decorated career that includes an All-Star selection and a Finals MVP in Detroit. Kenny Anderson had some solid seasons in Boston, but if they were patient they may have been able to bring out the best in Billlups themselves.
3. Paul Westphal and two second-round draft picks for Charlie Scott
After being traded to the Phoenix Suns in 1975, Paul Westphal would go on to make five All-Star teams and play a productive nine seasons in the NBA. The man he was traded for, Charlie Scott would play just two seasons in Boston with lackluster results before he was moved on.
2. Antoine Walker and Tony Delk for Raef LaFrentz, Jiri Welsch and Chris Mills
A multi-time All-Star and long-time partner to Paul Pierce for the Celtics, Antoine Walker was a fan favorite in Boston before he was traded to Dallas in 2003. The Celtics gained very little in return for their All-Star forward with Raef LaFrentz, Jiri Welsch and Chris Mills never amounting to any more than role players in the NBA. While Walker would not again reach the heights he did in Boston the Celtics traded away a team cornerstone for next to nothing in hindsight.
Joe Johnson would go on to play six All-Star games after being traded as a rookie. Photo Credit: Mark Runyan, Basketball Schedule
1. Joe Johnson, Randy Brown and Milt Palacio for Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers
In 2001, after selecting Joe Johnson in the first round of the NBA Draft, the Celtics would trade the rookie for veteran role players Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers. Neither player went on to contribute anything significant for the Celtics during their limited stints there while Johnson went on to become one of the best shooting guards in the league. He continues to play at a high level after making six All-Star games and becoming a consistent 20-point scorer for the Suns and later on for Atlanta. While the team struggled through its toughest period, developing Johnson alongside Pierce and Walker could have been the answer Boston needed if they were willing to instill confidence in their rookie.