With 60 players selected every year, the NBA draft sparks memories of “Remember that guy?” “Whatever happened to him?” Here is a look back at the Celtics' draft picks and draft night acquisitions over the past five years.
2009
No. 58: Lester Hudson, Tennessee-Martin
Seasons in Boston: 1 (2009-10)
Departure from Celtics: Waived on Jan. 6, 2010
Hudson spent less than half his rookie season on the Celtics before he was waived in early January, shortly before his contract would have been guaranteed. He split his time between the C’s and Maine Red Claws (NBDL), where he was able to get some playing time under his belt. After being waived, Hudson was signed by the Grizzlies and appeared in nine games. A close friend of Rajon Rondo, Hudson returned to the Garden during the postseason to support the C’s. This week, he scored 30 points in the Bluff City Classic.
2008
No. 30: J.R. Giddens, New Mexico
Seasons in Boston: 2 (2008-09, 2009-10)
Departure from Celtics: Traded to the Knicks on Feb. 18, 2010, as part of the Eddie House-Nate Robinson deal
Giddens’ energy and athleticism was undeniable, but he struggled to play with the defensive focus and intensity commanded by the Celtics system. During his two seasons with the Celtics, Giddens spent time with the Maine Red Claws, where he developed confidence on the court that translated on to the scoreboard. He got his first (and only) start of his NBA career in January in place of Paul Pierce. He scored two points in 20 minutes, later saying that he felt hesitant to shoot under the magnitude of the opportunity. The following month, Giddens was sidelined with a knee injury. He was traded to New York as part of the Nate Robinson deal and played 11 games for the Knicks. Giddens is currently an unrestricted free agent.
No. 47: Bill Walker, Kansas State (via Wizards)
Seasons in Boston: 2 (2008-09, 2009-10)
Departure from Celtics: Traded to the Knicks on Feb. 18, 2010, as part of the Eddie House-Nate Robinson deal
The Celtics took a risk when they acquired the draft rights to Walker, who had injured his knee during pre-draft workouts. But Walker had a fighter’s mentality and was determined to get back on the court. He did, and like Giddens, split his time between the NBDL and NBA before being traded to the Knicks. Once in New York, though, Walker made an immediate impact in Mike D’Antoni’s system. He averaged 12 points, surpassing 20 points on several nights, and hit six 3-pointers in his final game of the season. Walker proved he could succeed in New York, which could be enough to earn him a contract there next season.
No. 60: Semih Erden, Turkey
Seasons in Boston: 0
Erden has played overseas since being selected with the final pick two years ago. In 2009, he averaged nearly six points and three rebounds in the EuroBasket Tournament. The 7-footer will play for Turkey in the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
2007
No. 5: Jeff Green, Georgetown
Seasons in Boston: 0
Departure from Celtics: Traded to the Supersonics on June 28, 2007, as part of the Ray Allen deal
Jeff Green had been a legitimate option for the Celtics at the fifth spot before he become trade bait. On the night of the 2007 draft, Green was packaged with Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak in exchange for Ray Allen. Since then Green has become a key member of the Thunder and part of a promising young trio along with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. He averaged 15 points and six rebounds against the Lakers in his first career postseason series.
No. 32: Gabe Pruitt, USC
Seasons in Boston: 2 (2007-08, 2008-09)
Departure from Celtics: Waived on July 31, 2009
Pruitt was an explosive combo guard, but once he stepped on the court, he looked reluctant and unsure on the offensive end. Pruitt’s time on the Celtics, however, was overshadowed by a DUI arrest in February of 2009 following a game against the Clippers in Los Angeles. Last season he was signed to the Knicks' training camp roster but was waived before the start of the regular season. He went on to play for the NBDL’s Los Angeles D-Fenders and Utah Flash, averaging nearly 14 points in the first round of the playoffs for the Flash. Pruitt caused another stir off the court, though, when he appeared in an episode of “The Bad Girls Club.”
No. 35: Glen Davis, LSU (via Supersonics)
Seasons in Boston: 3 (2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10)
The Celtics acquired the draft rights to Davis on Draft Night from the Supersonics as part of the Ray Allen trade. Over the past three years, Davis has developed into one of their most valuable reserve players. In 2009 he stepped up to take the place of an injured Kevin Garnett in the playoffs; this past season helped win Game 4 of the finals off the bench. While he is still developing, Davis has proven himself to be one of the most dedicated players on the court. He doesn’t make everything look pretty, but Davis gets the job done.
2006
No. 7: Randy Foye, Villanova
Seasons in Boston: 0
Departure from Celtics: Traded to the Trail Blazers on June 28, 2006, in a deal for Sebastian Telfair
Foye was one of the busiest players the night of the 2006 draft. The guard was first selected by the Celtics, then dealt to the Trail Blazers, only to be traded a final time to Minnesota for Brandon Roy. Foye played three seasons with T-Wolves before being moved yet again, this time to Washington. He averaged over 10 points a game for the Wiz before suffering a season-ending wrist injury in March. Foye is a restricted free agent.
No. 21: Rajon Rondo, Kentucky (via Suns)
Seasons in Boston: 4 (2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10)
In what is one of the biggest steals in recent draft history, the Celtics acquired the draft rights to Rondo at the 21st spot. Rondo has gone from a player passed over 20 times to one of the top point guards in the league. Last season he earned his first All-Star selection and was named to the All-Defensive first team. Rondo is the floor leader of the Celtics and, after signing a five-year deal, will be their future.
No. 49: Leon Powe, California (via Nuggets)
Seasons in Boston: 3 (2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09)
Departure from Celtics: Signed with the Cavaliers as a free agent on Aug. 12, 2009
Powe was Ainge’s second steal of the 2006 draft. In his three seasons with the Celtics, Powe consistently gave dedication and exemplified the Celtics “We, not me” mentality. He was a key bench member during their 2008 championship run and looked to serve the same role in 2009 before he suffered a torn ACL in the first round of the playoffs. With an extensive rehab ahead for Powe, the Celtics chose not to pick up his option last summer. The Cavaliers quickly reached out and inked Powe, who returned to the court in February (ironically against the C’s). The Cavs recently exercised their option on Powe for the 2010-11 season.
2005
No. 18: Gerald Green, Gulf Shores Academy (HS)
Seasons in Boston: 2 (2005-06, 2006-07)
Departure from Celtics: Traded to the Timberwolves on July 31, 2007, as part of the Kevin Garnett deal
Green came to the Celtics fresh out of high school with potential and high-flying abilities. But while he looked impressive in the air (he won the 2007 slam dunk championship), he also looked young and inexperienced on the court. Given that the Pacers were able to grab Danny Granger just one pick earlier, Green’s ineffectiveness was magnified. He was moved to Minnesota in the KG mega-deal and struggled to establish himself on a string of NBA teams after that. Green played for the Timberwolves, Rockets and Mavericks before signing overseas with Russian club Lokomotiv Kuban. This season, he showcased his soaring skills in the 2010 Gatorade Dunk Contest in Russia.
No. 50, Ryan Gomes, Providence
Seasons in Boston: 2 (2005-06, 2006-07)
Departure from Celtics: Traded to the Timberwolves on July 31, 2007, as part of the Kevin Garnett deal
The selection of Gomes is a testament to Danny Ainge’s eye for talent. Gomes was a consummate team player both on the court and in the locker room. He patiently waited until Feb. 10, 2007, to get his first career start and took advantage of the opportunity. By the end of his rookie year, Gomes averaged nearly 12 points and eight rebounds as a starter. The Connecticut native has remained a fan favorite after being traded to the Timberwolves in the summer of 2007. Gomes has expanded his game to the wing and continues to learn from Paul Pierce even after leaving the C’s.
No. 53: Orien Greene, Louisiana-Lafayette
Seasons in Boston: 1 (2006)
Departure from Celtics: Waived on June 30, 2006
When Gomes panned out to be a dependable contributor at the 50th pick, there was optimism for Greene, who was selected just three picks later. But Green, the 2005 Sunbelt Conference Defensive Player of the Year, failed to bring that intensity to the Celtics. The point guard was waived two days after the Celtics acquired Rondo and Telfair the day of the 2006 draft. Greene went on to spend a season with both the Pacers and Kings. Last year he played for EclipseJet MG in Amsterdam but was dismissed from the team for drug use. This month, he was suspended for two years for tampering with urine samples while playing in Europe.
JESSICA CAMERATO
In the latest edition of the "It Is What It Is" podcast, Chris Price and CSNNE's Mike Giardi take a look at the Patriots offseason on both sides of the ball, try and get a handle on which new guys will make an impact first, and whether or not the Patriots have altered their style when it comes to drafting and developing wide receivers.
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Cleveland Indians hottest team in baseball, yet remain last in attendance May 19, 2013 By AJ Kaufman 6 Comments There’s a scene in Major League where Bob Uecker, portraying the radio voice of the Indians, bemoans, “In case you haven’t noticed, and judging by the attendance you haven’t, the Indians have managed to win a few here and there, and are threatening to climb out of the cellar.” Well, that was nearly 25 years ago and fictional, but today’s reality is that Cleveland has won 17 of its last 21, and currently tops the AL Central with a mark of 25-17. No one in the majors is better than the Indians in the past month (20-7). That’s great news. The bad news, however, is the Tribe somehow remain in the MLB cellar when it comes to attendance. How can this be? The fact that I wrote on this same topic almost to the day last year – when only Tampa Bay drew fewer fans than Cleveland - may be even more troubling. Though roughly 34,000 watched a walk-off win Friday night against Seattle, perfect weather and free caps weren’t enough to draw more than 36,000 Saturday and Sunday combined. What did the Indians do in those tilts? They nabbed another walk-off win on Saturday, then the Indians crushed the great Felix Hernandez Sunday behind Justin Masterson, arguably the AL’s best pitcher right now. Fun fact: The Indians have already faced eight Cy Young Award winners in 2013: Bartolo Colon, R.A. Dickey, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Jake Peavy, David Price, Justin Verlander and Hernandez. They have won seven out those eight matchups. Simply astounding. This offseason, the much-maligned Indians front office finally made a legitimate attempt to improve the team through free agency. I’m not talking an Ubaldo Jimenez-like trade, but rather smart acquisitions that brought veterans Mike Aviles, Michael Bourn, Jason Giambi, Scott Kazmir, Brett Myers, Mark Reynolds, Drew Stubbs and Nick Swisher to Cleveland. In addition to being a fantastic place to watch a game due to great egress and ingress, with extremely affordable tickets, the best promo lineup anywhere, Jacobs Field boasts overall, cooler, less muggy summer weather than most Midwestern locales. The team also lowered beer and hot dog prices to $4 and $3 respectively. What other professional stadium in any sport offers that? I have visited 28 of the 30 current Major League Baseball stadia, and few top The Jake when all angles are considered. I say that as a baseball fan, not an Indians fan. As for the putative “economic” angle, these are the same people who spend insane amounts of money to watch terrible football every fall and show up in decent numbers for putrid basketball in the winter. Irrespective of season length, those sports charge up to 10 times the price for a ticket, and the atmosphere isn’t half as fan-friendly as baseball. I understand fans’ lack of willingness to get on board to some degree. A decent recap of Cleveland’s decade of “rebuilding” can be read here and the team suffered a horrific collapse last August. However, in addition to all the benefits of attending games at Jacobs (now Progressive) Field, fans should also realize the team has potential and often exceeds preseason aspirations at any point without warning. Cleveland hosts the rival Detroit Tigers — heavy favorites to repeat as AL Central champs — Tuesday and Wednesday nights before hitting the road. The temperature should be pleasant at first pitch each evening so you’d expect The Jake to be full to watch the best hitter on the planet right now — but don’t count on it.
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