It’s rare to see teams in the same division make big deals, but the Brooklyn Nets became contenders by adding Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce while the Boston Celtics worked on their rebuilding process.
NBA free agency recap: Nets become Celtics South with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett
The biggest movement this offseason came between two Atlantic Division teams when the Brooklyn Nets acquired Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett from the Boston Celtics.
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It was a definite power move for the Nets: after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs and watching their crosstown rivals, the New York Knicks, keep playing, Mikhail Prokhorov’s squad went for the full revamp. They added Jason Kidd as their coach and brought in two of the best ever to play the game in Garnett and Pierce, perennial all-stars and teammates on the Celtics’ 2008 championship team. Throw in Kirilenko for cheap, and this team easily becomes one of the Eastern Conference’s best squads.
Don’t fret for the Celtics, though: they’ve got enough first-round draft picks over the next few seasons that it will be hard for them not to find quality players capable of once again making them a top squad in the East.
Meanwhile, the Knicks were less convincing about remaining a contender in the East. They also made an intra-division trade, bringing in Andrea Bargnani, adding a third enormous contract to their already bloated payroll, while losing a cheaper player with the same mindset in Chris Copeland. Like the Celtics, the Sixers recommitted to the rebuild, letting Andrew Bynum walk and dealing Jrue Holiday while bringing in top picks Jrue Holiday and Michael Carter-Williams along with a fully new front office.
Returning players under contract: Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, Jared Sullinger, Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, Jordan Crawford, Fab Melo, Shavlik Randolph, Courtney Lee
| Added | Lost | |||||
| Draft | Kelly Olynyk | |||||
| Free Agents | ||||||
| Trades |
| D.J. White | ||||
| Waivers | Kris Joseph | |||||
The Celtics' trade of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets was the signal of major change, but arguably the coaching swap of Doc Rivers for Brad Stevens was the most surprising offseason move. There is still a solid returning roster led by Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, Jeff Green and Jared Sullinger, but there are now complications in how the new pieces fill in the holes. Hard-nosed veteran Gerald Wallace is the biggest return in the Pierce-Garnett trade, but guard MarShon Brooks might be the most intriguing addition. Boston also added two talented rookies in stretch forward Kelly Olynyk and undrafted but underrated point guard Phil Pressey.
Brooklyn Nets
Returning players under contract: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez, Reggie Evans, Tornike Shengelia, Mirza Teletovic, Tyshawn Taylor
| Added | Lost | |||||
| Draft | Mason Plumlee | |||||
Free Agents | ||||||
| Trades | Paul Pierce Kevin Garnett Jason Terry | Gerald Wallace Kris Humphries MarShon Brooks Keith Bogans | ||||
| Waivers | D.J. White | |||||
It wasn't just a hop, skip and a jump forward when the Brooklyn Nets pulled off the blockbuster of the summer, acquiring Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry for a package including Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks and Keith Bogans. It was a monumental leap in the winning direction for a team that always had talent but added players who all have used their own skill sets to win titles. Also impressively, free agent Andrei Kirilenko got a Russian discount to join the Nets and owner Mikhail Prokhorov. Simply put, first-year coach Jason Kidd has the roster -- now he must figure out the best way to utilize it.
Returning players under contract: Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, Amare Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, Iman Shumpert
| Added | Lost | |||||
| Draft | Tim Hardaway Jr. | |||||
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| Trades | ||||||
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| Retirement | Jason Kidd | |||||
New York’s success last season eventually became overshadowed by injuries. J.R. Smith wasn’t 100 percent in the playoffs as he battled a knee issue that led to surgery this summer, but the re-signing of Smith is a message -- right or wrong. The Knicks aren’t going to give up on something that worked for most of last year. Getting younger by drafting Tim Hardaway Jr., signing free agent rookie C.J. Leslie and watching Jason Kidd start a coaching career, the Knicks also added size with shot-happy power forward Andrea Bargnani, who effectively replaces what Chris Copeland and Steve Novak were in 2012-13. Additionally, the Knicks brought back Pablo Prigioni, Kenyon Martin and recruited Metta World Peace to add some veteran toughness to their core. How far will it take them? It’s hard to say. But is it an improvement on last year’s team? Probably.
Returning players under contract: Thaddeus Young, Evan Turner, Jason Richardson, Spencer Hawes, Kwame Brown, Lavoy Allen, Arnett Moultrie, Justin Holiday
| Added | Lost | |||||
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Free Agents |
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Trades | Nerlens Noel (via draft-day trade) | Pierre Jackson (via draft-day trade) | ||||
| Waivers | Tim Ohlbrecht |
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The 76ers' rebuilding project is truly starting with a ground-up approach. New general manager Sam Hinkie shipped out recently crowned All-Star Jrue Holiday to the New Orleans Pelicans in order to acquire Nerlens Noel. Other than that draft-day trade, Philadelphia has been relatively quiet this offseason. Hinkie, a former Houston Rockets executive, traded for troubled forward Royce White, who didn't play last season because of his off-court anxiety issues, and also picked up two former Rockets in James Anderson and Tim Ohlbrecht via the waiver wire. There are some talented returning pieces in Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner, and it appears development is the first priority in Philly.
Returning players under contract: Rudy Gay, Amir Johnson, Kyle Lowry, Aaron Gray, DeMar DeRozan, Landry Fields, Quincy Acy, Jonas Valanciunas, Terrence Ross
| Added | Lost | |||||
| Draft | ||||||
Free Agents | Alan Anderson | |||||
Trades | Steve Novak Quentin Richardson | Andrea Bargnani | ||||
| Waivers |
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Toronto finally shed the contract of Andrea Bargnani, but the package the franchise received for the former No. 1 overall pick wasn't great. Steve Novak can act as a Bargnani type as a dead-eye shooter, but veteran center Marcus Camby was waived and swingman Quentin Richardson will either be waived or traded. Adding depth by signing Tyler Hansbrough and D.J. Augustin away from the Pacers -- not to mention summer league standout Dwight Buycks -- was nice, but the theme in Toronto is about developing the talent already established around swingman Rudy Gay.
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