Things didn't just go right for the Boston Celtics, they went exceptionally right this season. Everything that could have possibly worked out thus far has, though that doesn't mean it will continue in the postseason comes around until we know for sure.
In fact, things went a little too right. So much so that when the Celtics decided they had to clean house to give themselves more options this summer, meaningful contributors got the boot at the NBA Trade Deadline, including Anfernee Simons and Josh Minott.
The ascensions of the Celtics other young wings, like Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, and we'll even throw in Ron Harper Jr., made Minott the man on the outside looking in. That was a shame because he was actually the first surprise contributor for the Celtics when the season started.
In fact, he was a fast fan favorite in Boston.
Fast forward to February, and because their other players improved and Minott suffered a pretty untimely ankle sprain, the Celtics had little reason to keep him other than as emergency depth. In a way, they did him a favor by sending him to another team so that he could continue his improved play somewhere else.
And since he's become a Net, Minott has been killing it. Yeah, they're in a down year in the midst of a rebuild, but a guy like Minott was the perfect flyer for a team like Brooklyn. In 10 games with the Nets, he's averaging 9.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 0.7 blocks while shooting 48.3% from the field and nearly 43% from three in 16.1 minutes per game.
Plus, he's putting up standout performances against good teams.
Nets Josh Minott 22 PTS (8-13 FG, 6-9 3P, 85% TS), 5 REB, 2 AST, 2 BLK, 1 STL in 26 minutes vs. Knicks
— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) March 21, 2026
C’s traded him for CASH CONSIDERATIONS https://t.co/3nxQZLWHWZ pic.twitter.com/RW1lvSQwcx
It makes it more baffling that no one apparently wanted him besides Brooklyn. Yeah, he was in Boston's doghouse, but that reflected more on how surprisingly and insanely deep the Celtics roster was this season than it did on his abilities.
The Celtics were only getting rid of him to get under the luxury tax. Minott could have been a diamond in the rough for any contender looking for a boost, and the Celtics gave him to the Nets for free.
There's no telling what Brooklyn's plans are next season, but don't be surprised if Minott is part of them in the long term.
It's also possible Boston didn't want Minott to come back to bite them
Who's to say that there wasn't a robust market for Minott at the trade deadline? Because Boston was willing to salary-dump him with no strings attached, it's possible multiple teams wanted him, but those teams may have been ones that could have posed a problem for the Celtics in a playoff series.
Given his team-friendly deal, Minott was easy to dump from a financial standpoint, but given his skillset, the Celtics could have actually been in some trouble if they had to face the Pistons, Knicks, Cavaliers, Hawks, or Hornets with Minott in their arsenal in a playoff series.
The Nets don't fit that label (for the time being) because they are among the worst teams in the NBA, but that may not be the case for much longer.
Because of the Celtics' overwhelming success, it's easy to overlook how sad it is that an impressive player like Minott was overshadowed for reasons beyond his control. Both sides were better off parting ways, but the trade was likely easier for Minott, and it may get harder for Boston if he continues to ascend on a rival.