The (mostly) boring history of the Celtics at the trade deadline

If you feel a little miffed by the lack of movement involving the Boston Celtics' roster, it's probably no consolation to hear today's (lack of) events are not exactly out of the ordinary, true or not.


In fact, the Celtics, historically speaking, have been one of the league's least exciting teams on the day of the NBA trade deadline since Larry Bird was an obstacle to other teams in the league instead of being an obstacle for a major trade with his former teammate Danny Ainge. In the two decades prior to this year's dud of a deadline, the big names brought on board, in order, are:

1. Isaiah Thomas (2015)
2. Antoine Walker (2005)

That's it.

Hell, at the time, Thomas - as good as he is now - was looked at as a promising option off the bench, not a marquee player arriving to push the team firmly into playoff contention. Honestly, as good as he was at the time, even Walker didn't fit that bill. The Celtics make their moves in the summer.

Repeat after me: the Celtics make their moves in the summer.

Is it working? Has the rage subsided? Try it again, because anything is possible.

Perhaps it's just the way things have shaken out over the years. Perhaps it's because Danny himself was sent packing in one of those deals, which netted the underwhelming return of Joe Klein and Ed Pinckney for Ainge and Brad Lohaus; whatever the reason, February is not the month of the Celtics, and that's OK. As much as any of you, I'd be overjoyed to write about how new addition Paul George/Andre Drummond/Jimmy Butler will be fitting into Coach Brad Stevens' system, but the reality of the situation is each of those potential trades came with some pretty hefty pricetags. And those pricetags would have meant gutting the roster, the warchest, and in all honesty, probably both.


Could a roster capable of beating the Cleveland Cavaliers have been put together? With their mortality showing, just maybe. Let me emphasize the "maybe". And there'd still be whatever behemoth rises from the West to contend with, this year, next year, maybe even the year after that. No young players, likely, to build for a future, and no Hall of Fame first-ballot guys with a little gas in the tank to move (sorry, Isaiah, you aren't even close to that level, not yet).

I know you want fireworks. But sometimes, if handled incorrectly, fireworks can blow off a few of your fingers, and you're going to need those in the future.

Repeat after me: the Celtics make their moves in the summer.



For more stories about the trade deadline on CelticsLife, click here. For more by Justin, click here.




Photo via AP Photo/Jessica Hill
Follow Justin at @justinquinnn



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