by Kevin O'Connor

The 2016 NBA trade deadline has come and gone, but there's plenty to feel good about as a Boston Celtics fan. Let’s take a look back at the Celtics' 2013 blockbuster that sent Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets and reassess which players they’ve acquired as a result of that trade.

CELTICS ACQUIRE: Gerald Wallace, MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries, Keith Bogans, Kris Joseph, four first-round draft picks

NETS ACQUIRE: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, D.J. White, Jason Terry

2015, 2016, 2017 (rights to swap), and 2018 first-round picks
Who Boston acquired: James Young (2014)

The Celtics selected Young (No. 17) with Brooklyn’s first-round pick in 2014.

The three remaining picks are some of the most valuable assets in the NBA, and the 2016 pick is expected to be in the top five. Though it remains to be seen where the 2017 and 2018 picks will land, the 2017 draft is expected to be stacked with superb talents like Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum. Those players are arguably more talented than the top prospects in 2016, Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram.

Who Boston Acquired: Isaiah Thomas, Tyler Zeller

A $10.3 million trade exception was created in the deal, which was eventually used to acquire Tyler Zeller, Marcus Thornton, and Cleveland’s protected 2016 first-round pick.

That haul alone would’ve sufficed, but the Celtics then flipped the pick and Thornton for Isaiah Thomas at the 2015 deadline. Thomas is not only an All-Star, but has one of the best contracts from a team perspective in the NBA.

What is a trade exception?
A trade exception is created when one team over the salary cap sends out more salary than it gets in return. The Celtics have made heavy use of these as a result of the Nets trade.

Who Boston Acquired: Jae Crowder, Jordan Mickey (2015)

MarShon Brooks was packaged with Jordan Crawford in January 2014 for three second-round draft picks: Philadelphia’s 2015 and 2016 second-round picks, and Miami’s 2016 second-round pick. In the deal, Joel Anthony was also acquired, who was dealt to Detroit and a trade exception was created that was eventually used to absorb Jae Crowder’s contract in the 2015 Rajon Rondo trade. The Celtics also acquired Dallas' protected 2016 first-round pick.

With the 76ers 2015 second, the Celtics selected Jordan Mickey, and still own the other two draft picks. 

Who Boston Acquired: David Lee

Wallace played 90 games for the Celtics, and though he didn’t make a large impact, was considered one of the team’s leaders in the locker room. He was eventually dealt for David Lee, whose contract could be used in a trade today.

Who Boston Acquired: Jonas Jerebko

Humphries was signed-and-traded by the Celtics to the Wizards in the 2014, which created a trade exception. That exception was eventually used to absorb Brandan Wright’s contract in the 2015 Rajon Rondo trade. But Wright was later dealt to Phoenix, which created another exception that the Celtics later used to acquire Jonas Jerebko. The Celtics also acquired two second-rounders in the deal.

Bogans was dealt to the Cavaliers before training camp in 2014 and the Celtics acquired Cleveland’s 2016 and 2017 second-round pick. Dwight Powell was also used in the 2015 Rondo trade that brought in Crowder and the 2016 Dallas first.

Joseph is the only player acquired from the Nets didn't eventually lead to an impact acquisition for the Celtics.

Isaiah Thomas
Jae Crowder
Tyler Zeller
Jonas Jerebko
Jordan Mickey
James Young
David Lee

2016 Brooklyn first
2016 Dallas first
2016 Philadelphia second
2016 Minnesota second
2016 Miami second
2016 Cleveland second
2016 Dallas second
2017 Brooklyn first (rights to swap)
2017 Cleveland second
2017 Minnesota second
2018 Brooklyn first