The Boston Celtics can now place pick protections on the draft pick they're owed from the Brooklyn Nets, which is a new rule for the NBA.

While teams can place protections when trading their own picks, they were unable to place new protections when trading those along to other teams.

Boston, for example, could place a top-1 or top-2 protection on the Brooklyn pick in a trade to protect themselves with an alternative pick compensation.

The Celtics have been seeking a superstar via trade and have been reluctant to move any of their Brooklyn picks for anything less.