Celtics, Nets make mega-trade on NBA draft night

The breakup of the Boston Celtics appears to be entering its second stage, and the Brooklyn Nets may have taken their role as Eastern Conference contenders.

Two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed that Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett has agreed to waive the no-trade clause in his contract in order to join the Nets with teammate Paul Pierce as part of a blockbuster deal that has been agreed on in principle.

The deal is also expected to send Celtics guard Jason Terry to Brooklyn, with the Celtics netting three first-round draft picks, Keith Bogans (in a sign and trade), Kris Humphries (expiring contract after next season), Gerald Wallace (three years, nearly $30 million remaining), and Reggie Evans (two years, $3.3 million). In order for Garnett to agree to the deal, the Nets agreed to guarantee his entire salary for the 2014-15 season, which was $12 million in all but only protected for $6 million if he was waived. The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the talks.

Yet the two sides need Pierce's 2013-14 salary to make the numbers work for salary cap purposes, meaning the deal can't be formalized until July 10. The trade would accelerate the Celtics rebuilding process that began in earnest last week when former coach Doc Rivers was, in essence, traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for a 2015 first-round pick.

The picks that they'd net would be from 2014 (with some protections), 2016 (unprotected) and 2018 (unprotected). The Atlanta Hawks have the right to swap their 2014 pick with the Nets, meaning the Celtics would get the worse of the two picks. Bogans would have to go to the Celtics as part of a sign-and-trade.

While Garnett may need some time to consider this opportunity, it seems likely that he would welcome the chance to contend with new Nets coach Jason Kidd in Brooklyn rather than remain during Boston's inevitable decline. Yahoo! Sports first reported the talks.