- The Boston Celtics acquired Bill Russell from the St. Louis Hawks in 1956.
- Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013.
- The Celtics acquired Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2007.
The Boston Celtics have regularly boasted short championship basketball odds at a sportsbook over the years.
They’ve had to pull off some of the biggest trades in NBA history to help them earn an NBA-best 18 championships and maximize their NBA championship odds.
With that said, what are the seven biggest trades in Celtics history? Let’s take a look.
7 Biggest Boston Celtics Trades in Team History
1. Cliff Hagan and Ed Macauley for Bill Russell
The Celtics acquired Bill Russell from the St. Louis Hawks on draft night in 1956, and the rest is history, as he helped Boston win 11 championships.
Russell was the epitome of a team player and revolutionized defensive concepts, turning blocks into outlet passes. He struck enough fear into his opponents that they’d blow layups even if Russell wasn’t stationed directly at the rim.
2. Two First-Round Picks for Kevin McHale and Robert Parish
Boston traded two first-round draft picks to the Golden State Warriors in 1980, which landed them Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.
They teamed up with Larry Bird to help the Celtics win three championships (1981, 1984, and 1986).
Parish finished fourth in MVP voting during the 1981-82 season. McHale also finished fourth in MVP voting during the 1986-87 season.
3. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry, and DJ White for Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, Kris Joseph, Keith Bogans, MarShon Brooks, Three First-Round Picks and Two Pick Swaps
The Brooklyn Nets were thought to have a budding contender on their hands with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce joining Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez in 2013.
However, the Celtics had the last laugh, as those picks turned into Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Both helped Boston win a championship in 2024 and have developed into elite two-way superstars.
4. Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, and Two First-Round Picks for Kevin Garnett
Garnett joined forces with Pierce and Ray Allen to form what was considered a rare Big 3 after the Celtics acquired him from the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2007.
The Big Ticket earned Defensive Player of the Year in his first year in Boston, serving as the defensive anchor for their 2008 championship-winning team while providing plenty of offence.
Garnett’s fiery, competitive spirit made him a fan favourite for years in Boston.
5. Jeff Green, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, 2008 Second-Round Pick for Ray Allen, Glen Davis
The Celtics acquired Allen from the Seattle SuperSonics on draft night in 2007, which helped convince Garnett to come to Beantown.
Allen averaged 20.3 points and shot 52.4% from 3-point range in the 2008 NBA Finals, providing many clutch shots during that entire championship run.
6. Rick Robey and Two Second-Round Draft Picks for Dennis Johnson, First-Round Pick and Third-Round Pick
Dennis Johnson came over from the Phoenix Suns in 1983, helping the Celtics win championships in 1984 and 1986 while serving as a ball-hawking defender.
Johnson finished in the Defensive Player of the Year award race three times as a Celtic, finishing as high as third during the 1983-84 season.
7. First-Round Pick for Rajon Rondo, Briant Grant
The Celtics traded the Suns a 2007 first-round pick for Rajon Rondo in 2006, but little did they know that they’d acquire the starting point guard of their star-studded 2008 championship team.
Rondo was a triple-double machine during his time in Boston and a hard-nosed defender, as he finished in the MVP race twice.
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