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Report: Ray Allen, Paul Pierce Were Nearly Traded at NBA Trade Deadline

Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are getting set to once again enter the playoffs wearing Celtics green. However, it almost turned out that both of the Celtics stars could have been out of Boston by the time the playoffs rolled around.

Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Celtics came close to deals for both of the future Hall of Famers at this year's deadline.

According to the report, the Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies had come to agreement on a deal for Allen. The trade would have sent the veteran sharpshooter to Memphis in exchange for guard O.J. Mayo and a draft pick. In fact, according to Wojnarowski, Celtics coach Doc Rivers had even called Allen to tell him that he was headed to Memphis. Twenty minutes later, Rivers called back to tell Allen the deal was done.

Danny Ainge apparently had another deal in the works, but it wasn't as close to being as the Allen deal. However, the Yahoo! story reports that Pierce was close to being dealt as well. The Celtics were reportedly in talks with the New Jersey Nets. The C's would send Pierce to Jersey, and in return, Boston would receive Mehmet Okur's expiring contract and a lottery pick. 

Ainge reportedly loves this year's draft class, which is apparent considering these would-be deals, but decided that it was best to keep the team together for one more run.