Prior to the season, owner Irv Levin swapped franchises with the Buffalo Braves ownership group led by John Y.
Brown, Jr. Levin had wanted to have a team in his native California, but knew the other league owners would not consider a move of the Celtics.
In the meantime, a deal was brokered, without consulting team president Red Auerbach, to trade three players (Freeman Williams, Kevin Kunnert and Kermit Washington) to the Braves for Tiny Archibald, Billy Knight and Marvin Barnes.
By the start of the season, between trades and the retirement of team captain John Havlicek, only six players remained from the 1977–78 team, including the starting front three of Dave Cowens, Cedric Maxwell and Curtis Rowe, shooting guard Jo Jo White and backup point guards Don Chaney and Kevin Stacom.
Team depth issues were worsened when first round draft pick Larry Bird decided to remain in college for the season.