# NBA trade question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-trade-question/692087>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [July 1, 2014, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-trade-question/692087 "2014-07-01T13:20:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-trade-question/692087/1 "2014-07-01T13:20:34Z")

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During the season, I noticed that the Celtics had Paul Pierce’s trade exception. If he weren’t a FA, could the Celtics trade the exception FOR Pierce?

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**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-trade-question/692087/2 "2014-07-01T14:22:16Z")

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If I’m interpreting the rules correctly, I don’t see why not.

The initial trade is a single transaction, and the Trade Exception credit is created as a result of that transaction. Successive trades using that salary credit would be a separate transaction independent of whatever created that exception.

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**Author:** ![adelprete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@adelprete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adelprete)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-trade-question/692087/3 "2014-07-01T14:24:29Z")

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I’m not sure but I really doubt they would take back Paul Pierce. They’ve got a different future in mind.

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**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-trade-question/692087/4 "2014-07-01T14:30:49Z")

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Thanks DC. I thought so, just think it would be funny to read the transaction wire:

“Celtics acquire Paul Pierce in exchange for the Paul Pierce trade exception.”

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**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-trade-question/692087/5 "2014-07-01T15:24:53Z")

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> [@etv78](#):
>
> “Celtics acquire Paul Pierce in exchange for the Paul Pierce trade exception.”

[Stranger things have happened](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Player_to_be_named_later#Players_traded_for_themselves)