2023-07-31 12:18:00
On July 31, 2007, the Celtics and Wolves completed one of the biggest transfers in NBA history by sending Minnesota living legend Kevin Garnett to Boston. Sixteen years later, TrashTalk returns to this trade which had one of the immediate consequences with a title at stake, but also a long-term impact by opening the era of the gathering of stars in the NBA.
In the summer of 2007, the Celtics came out of one of the worst seasons in their history with a record of 24 wins and 58 losses. Results that frustrate the fans, and Paul Pierce, who evolves at too high a level to play in a bottom team, even begins to have desires to leave, nine years following his arrival in Massachusetts. To avoid this catastrophic scenario which would propel its deductible lower than it already is, the General Manager Danny Ainge decides to take action to build a competitive team around The Truth.
It starts with a big trade realized the night of the draft: Celtics send 5th pick (now Jeff Green), Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak to Seattle in exchange for shooter Ray Allen. The seven-time All-Star reinforces a well-sparse Boston back line and provides first-choice support for Paul Pierce. But Danny Ainge does not stop there, well aware that this arrival will not be enough to make his team a real contender for the title.
The GM is therefore interested in a bigger fish… or rather a bigger wolf named Kevin Garnett. Author of a new big individual season, the interior is in a difficult situation at Wolves, who also come out of a failed season with only 32 victories. Three years following reaching the Conference Finals, they decide to turn a page in their history by making KG available on the transfer market.
The interested teams are numerous, but in the middle of the Lakers, Warriors and Suns, it is the Celtics who have the last word and offer the services of the 2004 MVP. assets in his possession: Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair and two first round draft picks. By parting with 7 players and 3 draft rounds to recruit Allen and Garnett, Boston is making a risky bet, which will prove to be a winner.
July 31, 2007
*Trade Alert*
Celtics receive:
Kevin Garnett
Timberwolves receive:
Al Jefferson
Ryan Gomes
Gerald Green
Theo Ratliff
Sebastian Telfair
2009 1st Rd pick (#6) – Jonny Flynn
2009 1st Rd pick (#2) – Wayne Ellington
This better workpic.twitter.com/ZyuSBlWiVp
— Boston Sports Info (@bostonsportsinf) July 31, 2023
Thanks to their new Big 3, the C’s once once more become a serious candidate for the title at the start of the 2007-08 season. And they prove it on the field by crushing the regular with a record of 66-16 (42 wins more than the previous year, a record). The impact of the new recruits was felt right away, especially Garnett, who made Boston the league’s second defenseman and won the 2008 Defenseman of the Year award. The Celtics display a disconcerting collective game for a team that has experienced so many upheavals in the off-season. In just a few months, they become a real monster that exceeds expectations in every way.
At the start of the playoffs, Boston acted as the favourite… but experienced some difficulties in the ignition and had to fight in 7 games once morest the Hawks then the Cavs of LeBron James. The Celtics still climb to the Conference Finals, where they reaffirm their superiority by beating the Pistons 4-2. Qualified for the NBA Finals for the first time since 1987, they won by the same score once morest the Lakers and won the 17th title in their history.
On this date in 2008, the Celtics win their 17th NBA title with a 131-92 victory over the Lakers in Game 6.
Boston was a 24-win team the season before, wrapping up the biggest turnaround in NBA history and their first title since 1986. pic.twitter.com/Cx2ht5GArV
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 17, 2020
Dominant throughout the regular season and the playoffs, the Big Three succeeded in their mission: bring the Larry O’Brien trophy back to Boston and put this legendary franchise back on top of the NBA. It is also a great personal accomplishment for Pierce, Garnett and Allen, who win their first career title, the only one for the first two. But the following years were not as successful for the Celtics, who made it to the Conference Finals several times and even found the NBA Finals… without winning a new title. After five seasons of cooperation, the trio separated in 2013, leaving a huge imprint in Boston, but also throughout the league.
Indeed, the impact of the formation of this Big Three is not limited to the title won in 2008. The transfer of Kevin Garnett to Boston also has a considerable influence on the future of the NBA, opening a new era within the Great League: that of the gathering of stars. Having become commonplace (Nets 2021, Suns 2023, etc.), this idea of bringing together several big players to win a title was born with the Celtics of 2007.
The Heat is the most striking example of this, since it was in particular to face the Boston Big 3 that Miami built its own in the summer of 2010. After beating the Celtics in the conference semi-finals in 2011, LeBron had even explained that the Pierce – Garnett – Allen trio was ” the reason ” of their meeting and ” A model “ for them “. A statement that is not insignificant when we know the success of James, Wade and Bosh under the Heat jersey in the following years.
Celtics-Heat have a bit of a history in playoff games across the last two decades:
◽️️2020 East Finals
Heat win 4-2
◽️ 2012 East Finals
Heat win 4-3
◽️ 2011 East Semifinals
Heat win 4-1
◽️2010 East Rd. 1
Celtics win 4-1 pic.twitter.com/iKT2zwIZyV
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 17, 2022
July 31, 2007 therefore remains as an important date in the history of the Great League, marking the birth of a legendary team and the beginning of a new era in the NBA. Who knows, without this Pierce – Garnett – Allen association to pave the way, certain mythical trios might never have existed!
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#years #day #Kevin #Garnett #joined #Boston
