The rise and fall of Larry Bird and his Celtics dynasty, including the 21 teammates who helped him win five championships. Timeline runs from the 1977 drafting of Cedric Maxwell to Robert Parish’s 1994 departure to Charlotte.
1977
June
Cedric Maxwell is drafted out of UNC Charlotte in the first round with the #12 overall pick
1978
June
Despite a declaration that he would be returning to Indiana State for his senior year (and therefore could be returned into the draft pool if the Celtics were unable to sign him on time), Larry Bird is drafted #6 overall
August
Tiny Archibald (along with Marvin Barnes, Billy Knight, and two second round picks) is acquired via trade from the Clippers in exchange for Kermit Washington, Kevin Kunnert, Sidney Wicks, and Freeman Williams
October
Chris Ford (along with a second round pick) is acquired via trade from the Pistons in exchange for Earl Tatum
1979
January
Rick Robey is acquired via trade from the Pacers in exchange for Billy Knight
May
Bill Fitch is hired as head coach
June
Just a couple weeks before the NBA Draft, when his rights would have been reverted to the draft pool, Larry Bird signs a record setting rookie contract
Gerald Henderson and Eric Fernsten are signed as free agents
July
M.L. Carr is signed as a free agent
1980
June
The day before the NBA Draft, Robert Parish and the #3 overall pick are acquired from the Warriors in exchange for the #1 overall pick (which had previously been acquired from the Pistons in exchange for Bob McAdoo) and the #13 overall pick
Kevin McHale is drafted out of Minnesota with the #3 overall pick
December
Terry Duerod is signed as a free agent
1981
May
The Celtics defeat the Rockets in six games to win the 14th title in franchise history; Cedric Maxwell is named Finals MVP
June
Danny Ainge is drafted out of BYU in the second round with the #31 overall pick
1982
May
The Celtics lose to the 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals, dropping the decisive game seven at home in the Boston Garden
October
Chris Ford, Terry Duerod, and Eric Fernsten are waived
1983
January
Scott Wedman is acquired via trade from the Cavaliers in exchange for Darren Tillis and a first round pick (the pick would later be reacquired as part of the Dennis Johnson deal and used on Greg Kite)
May
Following a Conference Semifinals sweep at the hands of the Bucks, Bill Fitch is fired as head coach despite a 242-86 record over four seasons
June
Franchise legend K.C. Jones is hired as head coach
Dennis Johnson (along with a first round pick and a third round pick) is acquired via trade from the Suns in exchange for Rick Robey and two second round picks
Greg Kite is drafted out of BYU with the #21 overall pick
Carlos Clark is drafted out of Mississippi in the fourth round, with the #91 overall pick
July
Tiny Archibald is waived and subsequently plays one more season with the Bucks before retiring
1984
June
In the first NBA Finals match-up between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, the former is named Finals MVP as the Celtics prevail over the Lakers in seven games
Rick Carlisle is drafted out of Virginia in the third round with the #70 overall pick
October
Gerald Henderson is traded to the SuperSonics in exchange for a first round pick (which is eventually used on Len Bias)
1985
June
In an NBA Finals re-match, the Celtics are defeated by the Lakers in six games, dropping two games at home at the Boston Garden during the series
Sam Vincent is drafted out of Michigan State with the #20 overall pick
September
Cedric Maxwell (along with a first round pick) is traded to the Clippers in exchange for Bill Walton
David Thirdkill is signed as a free agent
October
Jerry Sichting is acquired via trade from the Pacers in exchange for two second round picks
Carlos Clark is waived
1986
June
The Celtics close out one of the greatest seasons in NBA history by defeating the Rockets in six games in the Finals; Larry Bird is named Finals MVP for the second time
Len Bias is drafted out of Maryland with the #2 overall pick but passes away just two days later from a drug overdose
December
David Thirdkill is waived
1987
June
The Celtics are defeated by the Lakers in six games in the NBA Finals; it would take the franchise 21 years to return to the championship series
Due to his lingering foot issues, which limited him to just 10 regular season games in ’86-’87, Bill Walton retires
October
Sam Vincent and Scott Wedman are traded to the SuperSonics in exchange for a second round pick
November
Rick Carlisle is waived
1988
February
Greg Kite is waived and subsequently claimed by the Clippers
Jerry Sichting is traded to the Trail Blazers in exchange for Jim Paxson
June
Following a Conference Finals loss to the Pistons, K.C. Jones shockingly steps down as coach and is replaced by his top assistant, Jimmy Rodgers
1989
February
Danny Ainge (along with Brad Lohaus) is traded to the Kings in exchange for Joe Kleine and Ed Pinckney
May
For the first time in nine seasons, the Celtics fail to advance past the first round of the playoffs, getting swept by the Pistons
1990
September
When the Celtics fail to offer him a contract for the ’90-’91 season, Dennis Johnson retires
1992
August
Larry Bird announces his retirement
1993
May
After a first round loss to the Hornets, Kevin McHale announces his retirement
1994
August
Robert Parish, the last remaining vestige of the ’80s Celtics dynasty, signs as a free agent with the Hornets after 14 seasons in Boston
Basketball, Listed 