An anonymous Western Conference executive says it's “remarkable” how quickly the Brooklyn Nets have rebounded from the Paul Pierce-Kevin Garnett trade with the Boston Celtics, according to Ian Begley of ESPN.

The Nets traded Keith Bogans, MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries, Kris Joseph, Gerald Wallace, a 2014 first round pick, a 2016 first round pick, a 2017 first round pick and a 2018 first round pick to the Celtics back in 2013 in exchange for Garnett, Pierce, Jason Terry and D.J. White.

The Nets won just one playoff series in the Pierce-Garnett era and lost a bevy of draft picks. When Sean Marks came to Brooklyn as the new general manager in 2016, many predicted it would take him years to rebuild the franchise.

However, Marks and head coach Kenny Atkinson have done a fantastic job together. The Nets are in the playoffs this season and have a nice young core to build around.

“That they were able to dig out of the Pierce-Garnett trade this quickly is remarkable,” a Western Conference executive said. “Credit to them for staying the course.”

The Nets traded for D'Angelo Russell in the summer of 2017. Signing Spencer Dinwiddie and drafting Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert are the other good moves Marks has made as GM.

Brooklyn has cap space this summer to sign a max contract player. If they are able to get a star player, the Nets could be a contender next season.