On this day in Boston Celtics history, the team traded forward Tayshaun Prince to the Detroit Pistons in 2015 in exchange for power forward Jonas Jerebko and small forward GiGi Datome. As part of the deal, the Celtics also sent guard Marcus Thornton to the Phoenix Suns. In turn, the Suns sent a young point guard fighting for playing time in their crowded backcourt rotation to the Celtics in exchange for Thornton’s services.
That floor general was none other than the future King in the Fourth, Isaiah Thomas, who was unhappy about having to compete with fellow Phoenix guards Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe to get on the court with the Suns.
IT carved out a starting role quickly with his new team, eventually becoming a part of Celtics lore himself with multiple deep playoff runs with the franchise.
Datome and Jerebko — also known as the “Swedish Larry Bird” — were quite popular with fans in their time in Boston, if not as productive.
Thomas was dealt away at the end of the 2016-17 season. Jerebko left at the same time in free agency, and Datome lasted just the next 18 games of the 2014-15 season.
It is also the anniversary of Boston sending Chris Mills to the Atlanta Hawks, and Mike James to the Pistons in exchange for Chucky Atkins, Lindsey Hunter, and the draft pick used to select Tony Allen in 2004.
The three-team deal also sent future Celtic Rasheed Wallace to Detroit, completing the roster that won that year’s NBA championship.
Neither Hunter, who would be waived by the team inside a week, nor Atkins, who played 24 games during the remainder of that season, would be a major part of the club’s future.
Atkins was part of the trade that provided the draft pick that became Rajon Rondo a few seasons later.
Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ
