No fan wants to see their favorite player (let alone a franchise type player) leave their team. It has happened before with Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley.
But it is the nature of the NBA business and no player is safe or un-tradable from a team.
Paul Pierce is one of those players that many thouht he'd retire in green and white. Yet the Celtics made roster moves which included him as he is now a member of the Nets.
From a business angle, it made sense for Boston but on a personal level, it hurt the fans in Boston.
He led the team to a title and brought the Celtics back to glory. Now that he will be playing for Brooklyn, here is a look back at the blood, sweat and tears he poured into the Celtics franchise.
