The Boston Celtics bought a full-page advertisement in the Boston Globe Friday to thank Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
Veteran forwards Garnett and Pierce were officially traded to the New Jersey Nets on Thursday after starring for the Celtics, who are now rebuilding.
The ad reads “Thank you for your heart, for your passion, for your sacrifice, for playing through the pain, for bleeding green, for honoring tradition, for an amazing ride, for restoring Celtic pride for Banner 17.” It also features photos of Garnett holding up the Larry O’Brien trophy in celebrating Boston’s 2008 NBA championship and Pierce holding his Finals MVP trophy.
Garnett was traded to Boston from the Minnesota Timberwolves before the 2007-08 season and helped the Celtics win the NBA title in his first season, joining Ray Allen and Pierce.
Pierce spent the first 15 years of his NBA career with the Celtics, leaving as the franchise’s second all-time leading scorer.
Garnett, Pierce and guard Jason Terry were traded to the Nets for first-round picks in 2014, ’16 and ’18, power forward Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, Kris Joseph, MarShon Brooks and a sign-and-traded Keith Bogans.
The deal was finalized Wednesday because of the collective bargaining agreement.