The Celtics' run to the 2022 NBA Finals is nine years in the making.
Let's rewind to the beginning of June 2013 — Jayson Tatum was 15 years old, Jaylen Brown was 16 years old and Paul Pierce had just wrapped his 15th season with the Celtics franchise. Weeks later, one draft-night trade would bring an end to an era while planting seeds for the future of two high schoolers.
2013 Celtics-Nets trade details
Nets received: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, D.J. White
Celtics received: Keith Bogans, MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries, Kris Joseph, Gerald Wallace, 2014 first-round pick, 2016 first-round pick, right to swap 2017 first-round picks, 2018 first-round pick
2016: After the Nets finish with a 21-61 record, the Celtics select Jaylen Brown with the third pick in the 2016 NBA Draft
2017: The Nets finish with a 20-62 record and the Celtics exercise their right to a pick swap, winning the No. 1 overall pick. Boston would trade down to No. 3, where it selected Jayson Tatum.
2018: The Nets finish 28-54 and the Celtics win the No. 8 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. That pick is rerouted to Cleveland as part of the trade that made Kyrie Irving a Celtic.