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Boston Celtics Top 25 Moments In Franchise History

By Bill Speros

BOSTON - 1996: Red Auerbach, former head coach and General Manager of the Boston Celtics poses for a portrait in front of Celtics championship banners in Boston Massachesetts in 1996. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1996 NBAE (Photo by Greg Foster/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON - 1996: Red Auerbach, former head coach and General Manager of the Boston Celtics poses for a portrait in front of Celtics championship banners in Boston Massachesetts in 1996. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1996 NBAE (Photo by Greg Foster/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON – 1992: Robert Parish
BOSTON – 1992: Robert Parish /

7. Big Three – Part One

On June 9, 1980, Red Auerbach executed another one of his patented draft deal steals. Auerbach swapped the first and 13th picks to Golden State for the third pick in the 1980 Draft and four-year veteran center Robert Parish.

The Warriors selected Purdue center Joe Barry Carroll with their first pick (ouch!) and Mississippi forward Rickey Brown 13th. The Celtics took forward Kevin McHale of Minnesota with that No. 3 pick. Boston ended up adding Parish and McHale to a frontcourt that already featured Larry Bird and Cedric Maxwell.

In one trade, Auerbach had acquired a frontcourt for the next decade. He also unwittingly laid the foundation for a deal 27 years later that would bring another title to Boston.

Next: No. 6

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