Nets Celtics Trade: Teams Came Close To Swap For Paul Pierce A Few Times Before

A Nets Celtics trade that would send Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett up the down the road to Brooklyn is in the works, but it’s not the first time the teams have tried to finish a similar deal.

The two teams are reportedly close to a deal that send Pierce and Garnett to Brooklyn, with sources saying it could be completed in a matter of days. It’s not the first time the two teams have come close to a blockbuster trade.

During the season the teams tried to pull off a swap that would have sent Pierce to the Nets, but they couldn’t agree to the terms. The rumor emerged close to the trade deadline, and the Nets were willing to part with forward Kris Humpries, guard MarShon Brooks, and a first-round pick, but it reportedly wasn’t enough for the Celtics liking.

“The Celtics still highly value Pierce and it wouldn’t make sense to trade him for that kind of a package if they’re keeping Kevin Garnett,” one league source said in February, when rumors of the deal started.

The teams were actually close to a deal to send Pierce to the Nets back at the 2012 trade deadline, but the Celtics opted to hold onto their star player for the playoff run.

But apparently the rumors were foreshadowing, as now after the season has ended another Nets Celtics trade appears in the works.

The outline of the deal is as follows: Brooklyn sends three first-round picks (2014, ’16 and ’18) along with Kris Humphries’ expiring contract, Gerald Wallace, Tornike Shengelia, Reggie Evans and a sign-and-traded Keith Bogans. The Celtics in exchange would send Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry to the Nets.

The Celtics are a busy team this offseason. They already sent coach Doc Rivers to the Los Angeles Clippers, reportedly in exchange for a first-round draft pick in 2015. The Celtics and Clippers had also worked on a trade sending Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles in exchange for Eric Bledsoe and DeAndre Jordan, but a source close to the league said the teams are barred from completing trades until the end of the season as a stipulation of the NBA approving the Rivers deal.

The Nets Celtics trade is waiting only on Kevin Garnett to waive his no-trade clause, a source close to the process said.