Danny Ainge has always said that he would never do what the late Red Auerbach did, which was let his Big Three limp into the sunset without getting anything in return for them.
And he lived up to his word.
According to multiple sources, the Celtics and Nets have agreed in principle to a blockbuster deal that would officially end the new Big Three era. The C's will send Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry to Brooklyn in exchange for Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, Keith Bogans, Kris Joseph and three future first-round picks in 2014, 2016 and 2018.
The trade cannot become official until the end of the free-agent moratorium, which is July 10 because Pierce and Bogans are free agents and need to be under contract for the new league year, which begins July 1.
As recently as Wednesday, reports surfaced that Nets GM Billy King had contacted the Celtics about the availability of Kevin Garnett, but many felt that any deal was highly unlikely. Less than 24 hours later, the tables have turned.
The deal evolved in a matter of hours before last night's NBA Draft. After being presented to ownership, the final hurdle in the matter was getting Garnett to waive his no-trade clause. During last night's draft, King and Nets head coach Jason Kidd made a pitch to Garnett that blew him out of the water. That pitch, along with his close relationships with Kidd and Pierce and the Nets fully guaranteeing the full $12 million on the final year of his deal -- Garnett could have been bought out before the 2014-2015 season for $6 million -- were the driving factors in Garnett waiving his no-trade clause.
For Danny Ainge, it's official: they are in rebuild mode.
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