Gerald Wallace: Nets 'get-rich-scheme backfired' on the team

Gerald Wallace, who spent two seasons with the New Jersey and later Brooklyn Nets, once again returned to Barclays Center on Wednesday night as a member of the Boston Celtics and gave a blunt, honest take on what was and will continue to be looked at as a franchise-changing moment for his former team.

As you recall, Wallace was part of the deal that netted Brooklyn two future Hall of Famers in Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett last summer, when he was shipped to Boston as part of a 9-player deal, as well as three future draft picks, back in the summer of 2013.

Wallace who, again, isn't one to hold back or massage how he really feels, told the New York Daily News that the Celtics deal in 2013 was a "get-rich-scheme" that ended up back-firing on the Nets.

It was the seventh time the Nets faced the Celtics since the franchise-altering trade in 2013. That deal can be assessed as a failure for Brooklyn, which sacrificed three first-round picks for one player who is no longer around (Paul Pierce) and another who is a lot further past his prime than anticipated (Kevin Garnett). Gerald Wallace — the forward Brooklyn sent to Boston as part of the robust package — became the first player or executive involved to openly blast the Nets’ strategy.

"It was one of those stories of a get-rich-quick scheme. You either hit it big or you don’t," Wallace said. "They took a gamble. It backfired."

Last season the Brooklyn Nets lost to the Miami Heat in the second round of the playoffs, then losing Paul Pierce later that summer to free agency. Now, they are 16-19 as they approach the midway point of the 2014-15 season.

Wallace, in his 13th season, is playing a career-low 7.1 minutes per game and posting career-low numbers for the Celtics.

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• Gerald Wallace: Nets’ 2013 Trade With Celtics A Failed ‘Get-Rich-Quick Scheme’ - NESN