The 20 Worst Trades in NBA History

1. Brooklyn Nets trade for Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce

The Brooklyn Nets were trying to take the city of New York by storm in 2013 when they traded with the Boston Celtics for Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, both of whom were way past their prime. Nine players were moved in the trade, none of which were of much consequence for either team, but what did matter was the massive draft capital that Brooklyn sent to Boston.

The Nets traded three first round picks in 2014, 2016 and 2018, while also giving the Celtics the ability to swap picks in 2017. Those draft picks now make up a majority of the excellent team that the Celtics field. The 2016 pick was used on Jaylen Brown and they then traded the 2018 pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers to land star point guard Kyrie Irving.

Finally, they were able to swap picks in 2017 and land the first overall pick in the draft, which they flipped to the 76ers in exchange for the third pick and a future first. With their pick in the 2017 Draft, the Celtics drafted Jayson Tatum third overall.

In Tatum, Brown and Irving, the Celtics have a young core that is the envy of all teams in the NBA. All of which could be on the Brooklyn Nets if they did not make that terrible trade for Garnett and Pierce.