The basketball world often wonders about what could have been if certain trades had gone differently. One such trade that could have altered the NBA’s scenario involved the Boston Celtics and the Brooklyn Nets back in 2013.
The Celtics sent away veterans Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry to the Nets in that infamous trade. Little did they know at the time that they were also giving up the opportunity to pair Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown together in Brooklyn. With the trade, the Celtics got back-to-back opportunity of drafting Brown and Tatum.
Since becoming teammates in Boston in 2017, Tatum and Brown have achieved remarkable success. Together, they boast a total of 8 All-Star appearances and have been named to 5 All-NBA teams. Since both Tatum and Brown started to play together, the Celtics have amassed an impressive record of 343-189 in both regular season and playoff games combined. This dynamic duo has propelled the Celtics to six Conference Finals appearances in just an 8-year span, as well as two NBA Finals appearances in three seasons.
The Nets’ acquisition of veteran talent at the time looked like a promising start. Nevertheless, it was the Celtics who reaped the long-term benefits with the emergence of Tatum and Brown as franchise cornerstones.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown Flourish After Being Passed Over by the Lakers and 76ers
Like the Brooklyn Nets, the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers missed the opportunity to harness the potential of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, as both teams passed on drafting these stars. The Lakers and 76ers overlooked Brown in the 2016 NBA Draft and Tatum in the 2017 NBA Draft.
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Now, Tatum and Brown are gearing up for their second NBA Finals appearance in three seasons with the Boston Celtics. In stark contrast, both the Lakers and the 76ers have already been eliminated from the playoffs.
Brown has been outstanding this season, earning the Eastern Conference Finals MVP title by averaging 29.7 points over four games. Tatum’s scoring prowess in the playoffs has also been undeniable. He has averaged an impressive 30.2 points per game.
Also Read: Jaylen Brown: NBA ECF MVP, Record-Breaking Contract Holder, and Academic Genius
