Boston and Memphis Swapped Two Fringe Roster Bets
Boston sent Fab Melo to Memphis in exchange for Donte Greene in August 2013. Melo had been drafted in the first round one year earlier, but his NBA opportunities were already limited. Greene was a forward with several seasons of Sacramento experience, yet he was also trying to establish the next stage of his career. The transaction took place while the Celtics were reshuffling their roster after the departure of major veterans, and Memphis could explore a younger center without sacrificing one of its established rotation players.
Greene Never Turned the Deal Into Celtics Production
Greene's prior NBA appearances were mostly with Sacramento, not Boston. Although that experience gave the Celtics a reason to assess him, he never became a lasting regular-season contributor through this exchange. The value of acquiring an NBA veteran shouldn't be measured by carrying across statistics from teams he had left. Boston's practical benefit was limited to roster evaluation and flexibility as it continued moving away from its previous championship-era core. For a franchise that needed more dependable players, the trade did not solve an immediate on-court need.
Melo Was an Unfulfilled Grizzlies Development Attempt
Memphis acquired a large developmental center rather than an established interior starter. Melo had shown some shot-blocking traits but remained raw, and the Grizzlies moved on without gaining a substantive NBA tenure from him. His earlier games in a Celtics uniform belong to Boston's pre-trade history and are not Memphis receiving-team production. The organization may have considered the trade a chance to take a look at a recent first-round selection, but that opportunity did not turn into a persistent backup-center role.
The Result Was Smaller Than Either Player's Résumé Suggested
Both players brought recognizable professional histories, but those records should not obscure the limited returns in their new organizations. Boston did not secure reliable forward minutes from Greene, and Memphis did not develop Melo into a regular. Neither side was giving away a player who later became a major star for the other club, and the bargain carried relatively little lasting cost. An Even Trade grade recognizes the symmetry of two unsuccessful roster auditions. It is not a claim that either team transformed its depth with this minor summer move.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Boston and Memphis each receive C+ because the Donte Greene–Fab Melo exchange amounted to a short-lived roster evaluation, not a productive NBA acquisition for either side. Greene's Sacramento career and Melo's earlier Boston appearances can't be counted as incoming contributions. Neither franchise extracted a lasting basketball advantage from the transaction.