Revisiting the Celtics Forming the 'Big 3' of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett
By Nick Porr
Although anything but close friends now, there was a time when Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen joined forces to create one of the best trios the NBA has ever seen, altering the league's history (and future trends) in the process.
Just a year before winning the 2007-2008 NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics were anything but dominant. The team went 24-58, coming in dead last in the Eastern Conference.
A once-storied franchise, Boston was struggling to develop talent or sign free agents to transform their roster. Outside of then-five-time NBA All-Star Paul Pierce, the Celtics didn't have much to build around or look forward to.
Going into the 2008 Draft, the Celtics entered with an overarching objective: build a trade (with friend of Boston Kevin McHale) for Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Those discussions collapsed, however, when Garnett would not commit to a contract extension with Boston.
With Garnett staying put for the time being, the Celtics were still in search of another way to land a second star. They found that star in Seattle Supersonics guard Ray Allen.
In a draft night deal, the Celtics traded Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, and the No. 5 pick for Ray Allen and Glen Davis.
Now with two stars, it seemed like the Celtics were done dealing. But later that summer, Kevin Garnett reversed, and decided he was willing to sign an extension with Boston if traded there.
The Celtics had struck gold. Negotiations reopened between the Timberwolves and Celtics, and on June 28, 2007, KG became the team's third piece, arriving in exchange for a package highlighted by Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Boston's protected 2009 first-rounder, and the additional first-rounder Minnesota had once sent to the C's in the Ricky Davis deal.
Without expecting to initially, the Celtics had built a Big 3. After being forced to fall back on their "plan B" and trade for Ray Allen, the Celtics lucked out when Kevin Garnett became available later the summer.
Now with three stars, the Celtics won the 2008 NBA title, sending them from worst to first in one of the most drastic one-season changes in NBA history.