The 10 Greatest Trades In Boston Celtics History

As the Boston Celtics approach the trade deadline in 2024 with an NBA-best 37-12 record, there is little we expect them to change about their roster now. Still, the Celtics remain one of the craftiest teams in NBA history in regards to what they have accomplished on the trade market from the days of Red Auerbach to Danny Ainge and into the modern era with Brad Stevens, all as masterminds of Boston’s roster construction over the years. 

Today, just as we have with other elite NBA franchises in the past, we will take a look at the 10 greatest trades ever made in the history of the Boston Celtics organization. These deals led to monumental success for the franchise including most of their NBA-record 17 championships. As we head down this historic path, the behind-the-scenes look at these championship-winning moves proves the Celtics always have something up their sleeves.

1. Bill Russell

Celtics Receive: Bill Russell

Hawks Receive: Cliff Hagan, Ed Macauley

When it comes to the most lopsided trades and deals that have backfired in NBA history, this one ranks right at the top. In 1956, Red Auerbach coveted University of San Francisco center Bill Russell over any player in the NBA Draft. To obtain his services, Boston pulled out all the stops which included trading Hall of Famers Cliff Hagan and Ed Macauley to the Hawks for the No. 2 pick as well as a promise from Celtics owner Walter Brown to loan the Ice Capades to Cincinnati so they wouldn’t draft Russell with the first pick.

Thus, the deal went through and history was written. At first, the deal looked even when Russell led Boston to a title in 1957 but the Hawks came right back in 1958 and defeated Boston in the NBA finals led by Macauley, Hagan, and Pettit. Russell and the Celtics then made it a non-conversation over the next 11 seasons with 10 NBA championships and five MVP awards won by Russell along with a brand new blueprint for defensive dominance in the NBA.

The basketball mind of Red Auerbach and the willingness of Walter Brown to do whatever it took to get Bill Russell to Boston will forever go down as the greatest trade in team history.

2. Robert Parish And Kevin McHale

Celtics Receive: Robert Parish, 1980 First-Round Draft Pick

Warriors Receive: 1980 First-Round Draft Pick, 1980 First-Round Draft Pick

The day of the 1980 NBA Draft is yet another example of Red Auerbach being smarter than everybody else in the room. As holders of the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, the Celtics used league-wide infatuation with Joe Barry Carroll out of Purdue as leverage to acquire the third overall pick and center Robert Parish from Golden State. The Warriors used their third pick on Kevin McHale out of Minnesota, forming one of the greatest trios in NBA history in the process.

Having already secured Larry Bird, the Celtics now had a Big 3 of Bird, Parish, and McHale to carry them into the future. The trio would go on to win three NBA championships during the decade in 1981, 1984, and 1986. Parish served as the enforcer in the middle who was a walking double-double and defensive nightmare for opponents. McHale started his career as one of the best bench players in the NBA and skyrocketed to one of the greatest power forwards ever when he broke the starting lineup.

Once again, the genius of Red Auerbach resulted in a championship run for the Celtics that was legendary in both Boston and NBA history.

3. Robbery Of The Brooklyn Nets

Celtics Receive: Keith Bogans, MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, Kris Joseph, 2014 First-Round Draft Pick, 2016 First-Round Draft Pick, 2017 First-Round Draft Pick, 2018 First-Round Draft Pick

Nets Receive: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, D.J. White, 2017 First-Round Draft Pick, 2017 Second-Round Draft Pick

The third-greatest trade in Boston Celtics history is one in which the effects are still being felt today. In 2013, many around the NBA, especially in Boston, knew that the duo of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were all but done with their NBA careers. The problem is that these two plus Jason Terry were eating up a ton of salary, leaving Boston unable to build properly for their future.

Enter the Brooklyn Nets who were under the new leadership of a billionaire owner and eager to make a splash on the trade market. Garnett, Pierce, and Terry were then shipped to Brooklyn for a slew of role players but more importantly, a host of draft picks to build their future. In 2016, they would use their pick from the deal on Jaylen Brown who is a two-time All-Star and All-NBA team selection. In 2017, they would use their No.1 overall pick from Brooklyn in the deal to acquire Jayson Tatum.

Essentially, Boston turned the aging contracts of Garnett and Pierce into one of the best duos in the NBA in the 2020s. It was the best turnaround in the NBA over the last 20 seasons.

4. Kevin Garnett

Celtics Receive: Kevin Garnett

Timberwolves Receive: Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, Ryan Gomes, 1009 First-Round Draft Pick, 2009 First-Round Draft Pick

The 2007 deal involving the Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics revolving around Kevin Garnett was so one-sided, that many accused Timberwolves executive Kevin McHale of colluding with the franchise where he spent his entire playing career. That is because Boston was somehow able to acquire Garnett and not have to give up franchise-altering capital in exchange.

Garnett delivered on Boston’s acquisition of him right away. He was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 and arguably was their greatest asset en route to the 2008 NBA championship. In total, Garnett would spend six seasons in Boston, averaging 15.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game with five All-Star selections, four All-Defensive Team selections, and one All-NBA Team selection.

5. Ray Allen

Celtics Receive: Ray Allen, Glen Davis

SuperSonics Receive: Jeff Green, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, 2008 Second-Round Draft Pick

Kevin Garnett was not the only monumental trade the Celtics made during the 2007 offseason. On the night of the NBA Draft, the Celtics made some noise by trading for one of the NBA’s top shooting guards and All-Star Ray Allen. The sharp-shooting and athletic Allen came over to Boston to join Paul Pierce which ultimately enticed Kevin Garnett to approve a deal to Beantown just weeks days later.

In hindsight, Allen was seen as a third option for the late 2000s Celtics teams but there were plenty of nights where he was the best player on the court. In his first season with the Celtics, Allen was an All-Star once again, averaging 17.4 points per game on 39.8% shooting from three. He would then average 15.6 points per game in the playoffs to help deliver Boston their first NBA title since 1986.

Overall, in Boston, Allen would play five seasons, averaging 16.7 points per game on 47/40/91 shooting splits. He would be named a three-time All-Star, advance to two NBA Finals, and win one NBA championship in 2008.

6. Jayson Tatum

Celtics Receive: 2017 First-Round Draft Pick, 2019 First-Round Draft Pick

Sixers Receive: 2017 First-Round Draft Pick

The next deal in Boston Celtics history is yet another example of the genius of Danny Ainge’s tenure with the team. Holding the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, their sights were set on Duke University’s Jayson Tatum while the rest of the top teams were eying Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball.

Using this knowledge, Boston dealt their first pick to Philadelphia who then used it on Fultz and the Lakers used their second overall pick on Lonzo Ball. This allowed Tatum to fall right into Boston’s lap and set them up for maximum success in the future. While Fultz and Ball struggled in their respective new homes, Tatum thrived in Boston and it has been a steady incline ever since.

In seven seasons with the team, Tatum has already led them to an NBA Finals and four Eastern Conference Finals appearances. He has set and broken numerous Celtics records as well with four All-Star selections and three All-NBA Team selections to his name.

7. Dennis Johnson

Celtics Receive: Dennis Johnson, 1983 First-Round Draft Pick, 1983 Third-Round Draft Pick

Suns Receive: Rick Robey, 1983 Second-Round Draft Pick, 1983 Second-Round Draft Pick

In 1983, with Tiny Archibald at the end of his career and heading to Milwaukee, the Boston Celtics pulled off yet another heist that made them one of the two teams to beat during the 1980s. In a shocking move with the Phoenix Suns, the Celtics acquired former Finals MVP and perennial All-Star Dennis Johnson for Rick Robey and draft capital.

Over the next seven seasons, Johnson took over as the starting point guard/shooting guard for Boston. He averaged 12.6 points, 6.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in seven seasons with the team, helping them win two NBA championships in 1984 and 1986. Johnson would also earn four All-Defensive Team selections with Boston, serving as their first line of defense on those championship teams.

8. Rajon Rondo

Celtics Receive: Rajon Rondo, Briant Grant

Suns Receive: 2007 First Round Draft Pick

On the night of the 2006 NBA draft, few people knew what the Celtics had accomplished when they quickly acquired the 21st overall pick of the NBA Draft, Rajon Rondo in exchange for a pick in the 2007 draft. It was the first step in their master plan for the future just one year before they reset the league by acquiring both Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.

After a brief adjustment period as a rookie, Rondo thrived as a starter in 2007-08, helping Boston claim an NBA championship in 2008. Soon, he became one of the best point guards in the NBA, helping Boston advance back to the NBA Finals in 2010. Rondo would go on to play nine seasons in Boston, averaging 11.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.

Overall, Rondo would be a four-time All-Star, two-time assists champ, one-time steals champ, one-time All-NBA Team selection, and four-time All-Defensive Team selection from 2007 through 2015 with the Celtics.

9. Isaiah Thomas

Celtics Receive: Isaiah Thomas, Jonas Jerebko, Gigi Datome

Suns Receive: Marcus Thornton, 2016 First-Round Draft Pick

Pistons Receive: Tayshaun Prince

When the Boston Celtics acquired point guard Isaiah Thomas from the Phoenix Suns in 2015, not much was made of it. Thomas was seen as undersized and a player a team would struggle to build around. Over the next two seasons, Boston would show once again that their scouting department was second to none as Thomas became one of the top point guards in the NBA.

Thomas would have back-to-back All-Star seasons in 2016 and 2017, averaging 25.5 points and 6.1 assists per game. He would even finish fifth in MVP voting in 2017 and just miss out on All-NBA Team honors. He battled through injury and personal tragedy to deliver some memorable playoff performances and wins along the way as well.

After the 2017 season, Thomas would be shockingly traded to Cleveland in exchange for Kyrie Irving but was never able to repeat the magic he possessed in Boston ever again.

10. Kendrick Perkins

Celtics Receive: Kendrick Perkins, Marcus Banks

Grizzlies Receive: Dahntay Jones, Troy Bell

The final deal in Celtics history to round out our top 10 is one that still flies under the radar to this day. On draft night in 2003, the Celtics were looking for the quintessential big man to give them a rugged and physical edge in the paint. After the Memphis Grizzlies drafted Kendrick Perkins 27th overall, the Celtics swiftly moved into action, sending Dahntay Jones and Troy Bell to Memphis in exchange for Perkins.

While Perkins’ numbers never jumped off the page in his career, the intangibles he brought to a lineup were priceless. His rebounding, physical style of play, and defense were vital to the Celtics’ run to their 17th NBA title in 2008 just as they were in a return to the Finals in 2010. Perkins became an icon in Boston during his first eight seasons in the NBA and it was all made possible by the brilliance of Danny Ainge yet again. 

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