Turns out, in April 2013, a Celtics superfan, high schooler Micah Sharon, literally pulled a stack of unheard-of trade talks straight out of a vendor’s filing cabinet. This wasn’t just old memorabilia; it was a cache of documents from the Celtics front office, full of memos from then-GM Jan Volk, detailing trades for the 1990 season that never happened. What a find, right?
A Fan’s Treasure Hunt Uncovers Front Office Gold
Micah Sharon, a high school student then, was at Rich Altman’s Hollywood Collectibles show with his dad, a die-hard Celtics fan since the Russell era. This was their third family trip. He’d already snagged signed basketballs and other memorabilia. But then, a vendor invited him behind the table to check out a filing cabinet. Inside? Memos from Jan Volk, who ran the Celtics as general manager from summer 1984 to 1997. These were likely meeting notes, revealing inner workings of potential roster shifts. Micah, being the stand-up fan he is, shared scans with CelticsBlog for History Month, and what they show is pure, unadulterated NBA history.
The Green Machine Was Grinding, And Everyone Knew It
Let’s rewind to 1990. The Celtics were in a weird spot. A team in transition. They had solid players and a budding star in Reggie Lewis, alongside legends like Bird, Parish, McHale, and DJ. But for Red Auerbach, that wasn’t enough; he always wanted a championship team. And in 1990, they weren’t it. Larry Bird was still dropping 24.8 points, 9.5 boards, and 7.5 assists, with Kevin McHale adding 20.9 points and 8.3 rebounds. The team finished 52-30. Sounds good, but the Pistons had just won it all, and the Bulls were charging hard. The Celtics, despite their record, were bounced in the first round of the playoffs. They weren’t the “class of the East,” and these memos prove the front office was seriously looking for answers.
“Name Game” Reveals Who Was On The Table
These six memos give us an insane look into how NBA trades actually start. We’re talking preliminary “name game” stuff here. Volk had conversations with the Hawks and Bulls; both teams gave lists of players they were interested in. Imagine that! No notes said anyone was “off-limits,” though you gotta assume Michael Jordan wasn’t going anywhere if those Bulls talks got serious. One juicy tidbit from Volk’s chat with Jerry Krause: another team had already offered two second-round picks for Craig Hodges. That kind of info sets the floor for any offers, right? It just shows the detail and strategy in those early discussions.
These documents might be old, but they paint a vivid picture of a Celtics era grappling with big decisions. They pull back the curtain on how a powerhouse franchise like Boston navigated a tough transition, always chasing that championship dream, even when considering seismic roster shifts. It’s a wild, fascinating peek into the high-stakes chess match general managers play, reminding us that every decision, even those that never happen, shapes a team’s legacy.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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