A Sudden End

A good friend of mine texted me late last night amid a saddened conversation about the current state of the Boston Celtics.

"Getting rid of legends blows."

Undoubtedly, he is correct. There's never an easy time to part ways with franchise cornerstones, especially in the case of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.

Last night as many know, Pierce, Garnett, and Jason Terry were dealt to the Brooklyn Nets in return for Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, Marshon Brooks, Keith Bogans, Kris Joseph, and first round picks in 2014, 2016, and 2018 with the ability to swap picks in 2017.

Oddly enough, common sense suggests the fan base would be prepared for a breakup of the aging nucleus. After all, we're finally getting what we want right, a fresh start?  But there's a sudden finality which fans struggle to deal with and a realization that yes, Paul Pierce, will be wearing a Brooklyn Nets jersey next season.

There have been plenty of quick endings for Boston sports fans over the last week and a half. The Bruins let up two goals in 17 seconds to lose the Stanley Cup Finals on home ice, Aaron Hernandez is involved in at least one (potentially two) murder cases, and Doc Rivers now coaches on the other side of the country.

But with Pierce and Garnett, it's a slightly different feeling. What's the famous saying parents always use, "I'm not mad, I'm disappointed?"

I'm disappointed that Boston's second all-time leading scorer will no longer electrify The Garden on a nightly basis. Pierce has endured plenty of peaks and valleys in his time here in Boston which ranged from a near-death experience, the worst losing streak in franchise history, and ultimately a Championship and competitive end.

The Celtics pride themselves on tradition. Fans know the names and the stories of the likes of Larry Bird, Bill Russell, and John Havlicek, but it's been 20 years since Bird stepped on the floor.

Paul Pierce was, for all intents and purposes, my generations Larry Bird. The ultimate Celtic, the scorer, and the franchise leader. And if Pierce was Mr. Celtic, Kevin Garnett deserves endless appreciation for cultivating Pierce's talent and returning true Celtic basketball.

Garnett provided what Pierce somewhat lacked. Garnett brought an attitude to Boston. He knew the original Big Three of himself, Pierce, and Ray Allen was a baaaad crew and made sure to let everyone else know as well. Defensive intensity embedded itself in Celtics basketball and formed a team easy to cheer for. Paul Pierce was the ultimate Celtic, but Kevin Garnett defined Celtics basketball.

In the end, these were Danny Ainge's two biggest gamers. While the mercurial Rajon Rondo often pouted and role players came and gone, Garnett and Pierce remained the rock.

Sure, the deal had to be done. While I don't know if we'll ever actually see Humphries or Wallace in Celtic green, Humphries' expiring contract is an asset to have. The cream of the crop will be the three first round picks, providing the Celtics nine first's in five years. Ainge pressed the detonator, blowing up his roster in an attempt to totally rebuild around Rondo. Granted, the Celtics will still be over the cap next season, but there are certainly welcoming signs for change.

But today is not a today to look ahead. Instead, it's a time to appreciate all that Pierce and Garnett left on the floor for the Celtics. For six seasons, those two led Boston's basketball revival, reminding fans how exhilarating and rewarding championship-level basketball really is.

Ideally, two Celtics legends would be valued more than pawns in Trader Danny's game of chess, and they would get the departure they deserve. But as is life in the NBA, rarely are things done the way it is drawn up.

So long, Grit and Balls. Hopefully there's one or two more bar fights awaiting in Brooklyn.