Garnett, Pierce Brooklyn-bound

Newsday

Two-thirds of the Boston Celtics’ former Big Three soon could be Brooklyn-bound.

In a potential blockbuster move that would shake up the Eastern Conference landscape, the Nets reportedly were involved in serious trade negotiations Thursday night that had them closing in on a possible deal that would land Celtics veterans Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.

The complex deal, which picked up considerable steam throughout the day, was said to have reached the management levels of both teams. The apparent hang-up was Garnett, who has to decide if he wants to waive his no-trade clause to team up with Pierce in Brooklyn under new Nets coach Jason Kidd.

Yahoo! Sports reported that the proposed deal would have the Nets trading Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, Tornike Shengelia, Reggie Evans, Keith Bogans and three first-round picks scattered over the next five years. Bogans reportedly would be included as part of a sign-and-trade agreement and the Nets would receive Garnett, Pierce and guard Jason Terry.

The deal couldn’t become official until July 10, when the NBA’s moratorium on player transactions is waived. The Nets reportedly would send their first-round picks in 2014, 2016 and 2018 to Boston, helping the Celtics in their full-blown rebuilding efforts.

Terry’s inclusion is to reportedly aid in offsetting concerns the Celtics have about taking on Wallace’s hefty salary, and he’d give the Nets some scoring punch off the bench. Wallace has three years and $30 million left on his contract. His production dipped dramatically in his first full season with the Nets, and he said that he lost his confidence and wasn’t sure what his role on the team was.

Given their capped-out situation and understanding they can’t make any major free-agent signings, the only true way for the Nets to significantly improve their roster is via a trade. A starting five of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez, Pierce and Garnett certainly would be a massive upgrade to their main unit, providing the Nets with more offensive firepower.

Although Wallace is a good defender and doesn’t mind doing the grunt work, and Evans is a rebounding machine, they were both exposed at times offensively.

Replacing them with two future Hall of Famers who are five years removed from winning a championship — even if they’re on the downside of their careers and may not have all that much left in their respective gas tanks — is an opportunity the Nets believe they can’t turn down if the Celtics agree to the swap.

Pierce, 35, averaged 18.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists this past season and is scheduled to earn $15.3 million in 2013-14. Garnett, 37, averaged 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. He has two years and $24 million remaining on his pact.