NETS GET STAR VETS GARNETT, PIERCE, TERRY FOR PACKAGE

The Brooklyn Nets acquired center-power forward Kevin Garnett, small forward Paul Pierce, combo guard Jason Terry, and power forward D.J. White from the Boston Celtics for combo forward Gerald Wallace, swingman MarShon Brooks, power forward Kris Humphries, swingmen Keith Bogans and Kris Joseph, plus first-round draft picks in 2014, 2016, and 2018.

What does it give the Brooklyn Nets
Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov seems intent on putting the pieces together to contend for an NBA title. Will this trade make that happen? It all depends on how much the aging trio of Garnett, Pierce, and Terry have left in the tank. Garnett is 37 years old now, which is an age few superstars have ever played at an elite level; moreover, he entered the NBA as a teenager, so Garnett turning back the clock seems unlikely. Meanwhile Pierce and Terry will both be 36 at season's opening and are showing signs of decline. All that said, if all goes well the Nets' new trio will play more complementary roles than in the past, with point guard {P Deron Williams}, center {P Brook Lopez}, and shooting guard {P Joe Johnson} doing most of the heavy lifting. This group probably needsd to win a title this season (if they're going to at all), since their chances of doing so with the three aging newcomers drop significantly with time. White is a still-promising depth power forward who probably won't play much.

What does it give the Boston Celtics
When Boston traded the rights to head coach Doc Rivers to the Clippers earlier this off-season it was obvious a rebuild might be coming soon, and it gets underway in full force here. The Celts still have All-Star point guard {P Rajon Rondo} and rising star combo forward {P Jeff Green}, and along with solid young big men in {P Jared Sullinger} and {P Kelly Olynyk} they already have some promising building blocks. It will be interesting to see what they do with expensive veteran newcomers Wallace and Humphries (especially Wallace, whom still has three years left on his deal), since both have extensive starter experience in the NBA. Brooks still has the potential for stardom, while Joseph and Bogans are both solid swingmen. Many of these players can help buffer the shock of rebuilding in the short-term, but obviously the three future first-round picks are the most important assets for the Celtics.

Fantasy impact
For Brooklyn the younger trio of Williams, Lopez, and Johnson will probably still see the lion's share of shots in the Nets' rotation. That means fantasy downgrades for all three of Garnett, Pierce, and Terry (who will likely be expected to assume more complementary roles than usual). White is an atheltic big man who probably will barely play, so his fantasy prospects don't change. In Boston the fantasy values of Rondo and Green will likely soar (since a lot of shot attempts are leaving in Garnett, Pierce, and Terry), and if Wallace and Humphries are kept around they too should get a fantasy upgrade. This deal also should help the fantasy fortunes of Sullinger, who can now be a big-minute regular starter for Boston if all goes well. Brooks is one to watch for down the road, but first he needs to win regular minutes with his new club.