Boston Chose a Veteran Wing Over a Developmental Center
On July 31, 2021, Boston traded Moses Brown to Dallas for Josh Richardson, with transaction records showing trade exceptions for the two teams. Richardson had already worked as a defensive-minded guard and occasional secondary scorer for other franchises. Boston wanted a more established perimeter contributor alongside its young stars, while Dallas obtained a big man with size and rebounding upside. The deal was not a draft-night rights exchange or a promise that Richardson would become a permanent Celtics starter. It was a rotation adjustment in which both clubs received an actual player under contract.
Richardson Supplied Boston Depth Before a Separate Trade
Richardson became part of Boston's guard and wing rotation during the first half of 2021-22, providing perimeter defense and occasional scoring. The Celtics could use him around their primary forwards without demanding that he direct the offense. Boston later sent Richardson to San Antonio as a component of the February 2022 Derrick White transaction, converting the experienced reserve into a piece of another roster decision. White was not sent by Dallas in July, so he cannot be listed as a direct asset in the earlier exchange. Richardson's actual Boston games and his availability as subsequent trade capital explain the Celtics' benefit.
Moses Brown Was Not a Lasting Dallas Center
Dallas received a young rebounder who had shown flashes of production in Oklahoma City but remained a developmental player. Brown spent only part of the season with the Mavericks and did not establish a durable starting or major reserve role before leaving. His prior Thunder performances provided a reason Dallas was willing to acquire him; they were not Mavericks production acquired in this swap. Similarly, the bookkeeping value of the trade exceptions has to be assessed on its own rather than treated as a second star in either direction. The player contrast favors the team that used its veteran wing.
The First Trade Worked Better for the Celtics
Boston got an experienced player it could actually use, then possessed a useful component for a later trade as the roster shifted. Dallas acquired a plausible prospect but did not receive a comparable stretch of reliable contribution. The Mavericks' cap flexibility still deserves recognition, which is why the return should not be described as completely worthless. Yet the Celtics received the more functional player for the needs of that season. Evaluating the July transaction separately from Richardson's earlier Mavericks year and from the subsequent Spurs deal produces a measured Boston-winning assessment.
Final Verdict
Celtics Win. Boston earns B+ because Josh Richardson provided useful guard and wing minutes before becoming part of a separate trade package later in the season. Dallas receives C+ for acquiring Moses Brown and flexibility through the transaction exception, but Brown never developed into a durable Mavericks rotation piece. Derrick White's eventual arrival came from another deal and isn't a direct July 2021 Dallas asset.