Paul Pierce’s effect on the Boston Celtics is lingering even in retirement. On Tuesday night, he wanted to make sure that fans appreciated his final gift to the franchise:
Paul Pierce is taking credit for the Celtics getting the No. 1 pick
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Pierce’s comment stems from the disastrous trade the Brooklyn Nets made in 2013 in an attempt to form their own “Big Three.” The Nets mortgaged their future to get Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry to pair with Deron Williams, who was one of the best point guards in the league at the time.
The Nets had moderate success in 2013-14, but the experiment resulted in just two playoff appearances before the plug was pulled. Meanwhile the Celtics, who recognized their own “Big Three” was over when Ray Allen signed with the Heat, got three first-round picks and the right to swap picks in 2017.
Which brings us to today. The Nets should be selecting No.1 overall and potentially finding a superstar. Instead, they’ll be selecting in the Celtics’ No. 27 slot and hopefully getting a player who can ... not just sit in the D-League?
So Celtics fans everywhere: Make sure you thank Pierce for his generosity today, because his talent (and the Nets’ stupidity) allowed this to happen.
