The Sixer Sense
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Comparing Philadelphia 76ers’ Rebuild With Boston Celtics

By Michael Bronson

Oct 16, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Drew Gordon (30) scores on a hook shot past Boston Celtics forward Brandon Bass (30) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Celtics defeated the Sixers 111 to 91. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Drew Gordon (30) scores on a hook shot past Boston Celtics forward Brandon Bass (30) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Celtics defeated the Sixers 111 to 91. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Celtics from 2013 to 2016 Part 1

The Boston Celtics finished the 2012-13 season with 41 wins and 40 losses and losing in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Knicks 4 to 2. Among the Celtics top three players Rajon Rondo (26 years old), Paul Pierce (35 years old), and Kevin Garnett (36 years old), only Rondo was in his twenties and he only played 38 games that season.

So the Nets accepting a trade sending MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries, Keith Bogans, Gerald Wallace, Kris Joseph, an unprotected 2014 first round pick, an unprotected 2016 first round pick, an unprotected 2018 first round, and the right to swap picks in 2017 to the Celtics for Jason Terry, D.J. White, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett.  It was a blockbuster trade, which to Celtics fans was just about as good as winning the NBA Lottery. The Celtics ended the 2013-14 season with 25 wins and 57 losses.

While the Celtics ended the 2013-14 season ranked 21st out of 30 teams in overall salary compared to the Sixers 29th ranking, this doesn’t change the fact that winning games wasn’t the Celtics’ primary goal that season. Two of the top three highest paid players on the Celtics were Kris Humphries ($12,000,000) and Gerald Wallace ($11,954,545). Both players were only on the Celtics to make the Nets trade possible.

The Celtics other major offseason move was drafting Kelly Olynyk with the 16th pick in the 2013 draft. The 2013-14 season was former Butler coach Brad Stevens’ first year with the team who ended up being one of the best parts of the Celtics’ rebuild.

Next: The Celtics from 2013 to 2016 Conclusion