Boston Exchanged McCarty for a Future Selection
The Celtics sent veteran forward Walter McCarty and cash to Phoenix in February 2005, taking back a second-round right in the 2007 draft. McCarty had been a familiar Boston rotation player whose outside shooting and defensive size helped him fill different roles. Phoenix was assembling depth for a competitive Western Conference season and could use a veteran with those qualities. Boston chose the possibility of a younger player later instead of keeping McCarty on the roster through the rest of that campaign.
McCarty's Phoenix Contribution Was Limited
McCarty supplied veteran depth for the Suns, but the trade did not create a major new scoring option or a long-term starter in Phoenix. His greatest playing history had already been established elsewhere, so those past Celtics minutes cannot become Suns production simply by changing his uniform. The appeal for Phoenix was the opportunity to use him as a reserve in a roster already led by other stars. The incoming cash was part of the deal but not an additional on-court contributor.
Boston Held a Pick Later Linked to Aaron Gray
Boston's incoming second-round right was eventually associated with the 2007 selection at No. 49, used on Aaron Gray. Draft-rights ownership changed through later transactions, so Gray's subsequent NBA career should not be presented as several seasons of Celtics center play from this agreement. The pick still had potential trade value and represented a chance to revise the roster when the draft arrived. It was a future option, not a direct substitute for McCarty's immediate forward minutes.
The Equal Grades Fit a Smaller Transaction
Phoenix got a veteran who could play a supporting role during a competitive season, while Boston received a later draft right instead of direct playing time. Neither side acquired an enduring centerpiece from the agreement, and the value depended on very different team priorities. The original Even Trade judgment awards both teams C+ for modest rather than transformative returns. That assessment doesn't require pretending McCarty became a key Suns star or crediting Boston with Gray's career on other clubs.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Boston receives C+ for the future second-round selection later linked to Aaron Gray, a movable draft asset whose later player production shouldn't be credited automatically to the Celtics. Phoenix also gets C+ for Walter McCarty's veteran depth and cash during its competitive 2005 season. Neither incoming package created a major lasting advantage.