The course that set the Boston Celtics down their current path as nascent title contenders at the midpoint of the 2021-22 NBA season can be traced back to the fateful decision of then-team president Danny Ainge making the decision to trade away his 2007-08 title core to the Brooklyn Nets.
But, unbeknownst to most of the world, the trio of stars the Celtics sent to the Nets might not have happened had the original plan for the trade been insisted on by Brooklyn or Ainge. The deal, which sent Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry to the Nets along with DJ White for salary matching purposes was very nearly vetoed by Garnett out of concern for Terry, according to the Arizona product in a recent interview with the Celtics Wire.
Terry explained how he was not part of the original package planned to be sent to Brooklyn, and was only added after Garnett threatened to block the trade without the inclusion of the JET (as Terry is sometimes called).
Celtics Lab 92: Talking about Boston's contender status, KG's jersey retirement and more with Jason Terry https://t.co/8vCfC4n1sK via @thecelticswire
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) February 26, 2022
