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In 2021 and after his abrupt departure, it is quite accepted to say that Danny Ainge’s work as general manager of the Boston Celtics has been somewhat conservative. However, there is less exercise to go back to the construction of the champion team in 2008 and finalist in 2010, in which Ainge managed to bring together Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. In addition to having done with Rajon Rondo during the night of the 2006 draft through a trade with the Phoenix Suns. It’s common ground that that 2007 free agency was motivated by Paul Pierce’s ultimatum to the franchise, but it hasn’t been until now that the forward has revealed how close he came to leaving the Celtics for the Mavericks.
On A chat with Sports Illustrated On the occasion of his selection to the Hall of Fame, the Garden legend has admitted that he came to pressure management to land in Dallas. It all started in the spring of that year in Las Vegas, where Paul Pierce and Mark Cuban met. At that moment The Truth He approached the owner’s ear whispering “I am the missing piece”. Pierce explained in the interview why he did it. “I was in my career peak, and I was watching all these guys play the playoffs. [los Celtics ganaron 24 partidos ese año]. It was depressing, I thought my stay in Boston was over. “
Echoing the news, a Mavericks fan account fantasized on Twitter what that team would have been like with Pierce, Nowitzki and Kidd. Showing off his usual verbal incontinence, Mark Cuban answered al tweet providing even more details about the operation. “We had the deal closed. There were three parties involved and all agreed. At the last moment the third franchise backed down because they didn’t know they were giving the Celtics a first round. ” The failed transfer ended up being the first stone of the last Celtics champions. The rest is history.
(Cover photo by Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
