Back in July 2013, the Boston Celtics made the major trade to move both Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets.
Before that trade could be completed, it needed the approval from Garnett, who possessed one of the league's few no-trade clause. It didn't take long for the deal to get finalized as the future Hall of Famer gave it a green light.
With that in mind, Garnett recently shed light on how the situation unfolded during Thursday's game between the Celtics and Golden State Warriors. (h/t Moke Hamilton of Celtics Wire)
“I think the time that we were all in Boston had served its time,” Garnett said after recalling that his approval was needed for the trade. “We were all moving. I think Ray [Allen] went to Miami the previous year. Paul [Pierce] and I and [Rajon] Rondo—we all knew that at some point, we were all gonna go to different places.
“I had family in New York at the time, and it just seemed like it was perfect for me,” he added. “It was a good opportunity for me. Brooklyn was a year-and-a-half of a good experience. New York is never a dull moment, it was good for me, it was good for my family and it worked out.”
During that time, there had been the feeling that the Celtics were headed in another direction with their core group. It had been a year removed both after Ray Allen decided to leave via free agency for the Miami Heat and the team had fallen short in the Eastern Conference Finals in six games against LeBron James and the Heat.
The core group led the Celtics to much success in six seasons, winning five straight Atlantic Division titles, reaching the NBA Finals twice while winning an NBA title once, and went three Eastern Conference Finals. Boston had simply run their course and needed a fresh new start, which likely made the decision process that much simpler for Garnett.
It was a difficult move for both sides to make given the connection that had been developed through the tremendous amount of success, but it became a necessary move to make.
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