The Celtics began trade deadline week by sending Anfernee Simons to the Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vučević in a significant move for the short term and potentially setting up long-term flexibility for the franchise as they attempt to return to contention. The move, or any others that happen ahead of 3 p.m. on Thursday, will all face an uphill battle in stacking up with some of the most significant moves in franchise history.
Boston built its championship teams through trades as much as they did in the draft, and certainly more than in free agency, where they didn’t strike on a star in his prime until Al Horford in 2016. The Celtics built the Bill Russell and Larry Bird dynasties through shrewd moves, and returned to championship status in 2008 through a pair of blockbuster deals for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s arrivals to Boston came through picks acquired in the Paul Pierce and Garnett deal with the Nets.
CLNS Media’s Nick Gelso counted down the top trades in Celtics history ahead of Thursday’s deadline and settled on five that stood apart from any others.
