On this day: Johnson born; Montross, Tillis drafted; Pinckney traded
On this day in Boston Celtics history, Celtics draft pick Joe Johnson was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1981. Johnson would play his collegiate basketball at the University of Arkansas, which he would lead to the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament championship in 2000.
The Little Rock native would be drafted by the Celtics in the 2001 NBA Draft with the 10th overall pick of the draft and would play for Boston for 48 games of his rookie season before being traded. The small forward would be dealt with Randy Brown, Milt Palacio, and draft assets to the Phoenix Suns for Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers in February 2002, then rejoin Boston for a single game in 2022.
The former Razorback averaged 7.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while with Boston.
It is also the date of the 1994 NBA draft, held at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Celtics took one player of note, that being big man Eric Montross out of North Carolina, drafted with the ninth overall pick of the draft. Montross played two seasons with Boston, logging 8.8 points and 6.6 rebounds with the franchise, before he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks for draft assets.
The Celtics would also draft Russian big man Andrei Fetisov 36th overall, but immediately traded him and forward Ed Pinckney for wing Blue Edwards and forward Derek Strong. Strong would play one season for Boston, logging 6.3 points and 5.4 boards per game over that stretch, while Edwards appeared in just 31 games for the franchise, recording 7.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per contest.
It is also the anniversary of the 1982 NBA draft, held at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, the Celtics again selected just one player of note, which was center Darren Tillis, taken 23rd out of Cleveland State University. Tillis would be with the team for just 15 games before being dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers for forward Scott Wedman. Tillis averaged 1.1 points per game over that short stretch.
Later in the draft, the Celtics picked up Landon Turner out of Indiana. The Indianapolis native never suited up for Boston, however, as he had been paralyzed in a car accident in 1981, with the Celtics using the final pick of the 1982 draft to select him as a tribute to his impressive college career.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lakers rumors: Luka Doncic still ‘motivated' by stunning Mavericks trade
The post Lakers rumors: Luka Doncic still 'motivated' by stunning Mavericks trade appeared first on ClutchPoints. While the Dallas Mavericks are transitioning into a new era with Cooper Flagg now on the roster, Luka Doncic is preparing to settle into his new home with the Los Angeles Lakers. According to Dave McMenamin ESPN, Doncic is still motivated by everything that happened following the Mavericks' shocking decision to trade him to the Lakers in February. Advertisement 'Doncic remains motivated by how the Dallas Mavericks treated him in the aftermath of the trade and how the Lakers' season ended, and has committed to an offseason training and nutrition program, sources told ESPN,' McMenamin wrote in a recent article. Doncic now has a full offseason with his new team. In February, he had to immediately make the adjustment to playing for his first franchise other than the Mavericks in the NBA. Doncic displayed signs of his MVP-caliber play in LA, but one has to imagine he will take a step forward after a full offseason of preparation with the Lakers. The 26-year-old averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He also shot 43.8 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from beyond the arc. Injuries limited Doncic during the 2024-25 season, but he played well while on the floor. When healthy, Luka is an MVP candidate. The Lakers' outlook is intriguing. With LeBron James and Luka Doncic leading the way, they will likely be a serious contender in 2025-26. LA also needs to think about the future, though. They are beginning the process of building around Doncic while also still trying to compete in the near future. Advertisement If Doncic does indeed have extra motivation — which is being reported — he may even take a step forward. Although Doncic is becoming a veteran in the NBA, he still is only 26 years old. Luka could realistically get even better and that is a frightening thought for opposing teams. Related: Lakers rumors: The 2 big men L.A. checked on last season before failed Mark Williams trade Related: Lakers rumors: Where Austin Reaves, L.A. stand after rejected contract offer
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lakers rumors: Where Austin Reaves, L.A. stand after rejected contract offer
The post Lakers rumors: Where Austin Reaves, L.A. stand after rejected contract offer appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Los Angeles Lakers took some steps in the right direction during the 2024-25 campaign, but they crashed out of the playoffs in the first round when all was said and done. Now, they enter another very important offseason, and while his future isn't the team's biggest concern, the Lakers have some work to do when it comes to Austin Reaves and his contract situation. Advertisement Reaves emerged as the crucial No. 3 option behind Luka Doncic and LeBron James down the stretch last season, and it's clear he will be getting a big pay raise in the near future. However, he turned down a four-year, $89.2 million contract offer Los Angeles handed to him earlier this week, although that wasn't much of a surprise. Despite that decision, it sounds like both the Lakers and Reaves have interest in hammering out a new deal in the future. 'Reaves, for his part, declined the Lakers' four-year, $89.2 million offer this week, which sources said came as no surprise,' Dave McMenamin of ESPN reported. 'The Lakers made the offer, sources said, understanding that Reaves would turn it down, but the franchise wanted to show its interest in him nonetheless and did not want to send the wrong signal by not offering it. Both sides, sources told ESPN, are motivated to find a deal next summer.' Lakers, Austin Reaves still motivated to find common ground in contract talks Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Reaves has gradually turned himself into an indispensable piece for Los Angeles, and he's fresh off the best season of his career. In 73 games, Reaves averaged career-highs across the board (20.2 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game) while shooting 46% from the field. With James' career coming to a close, Reaves is the second-most important player on the team behind Doncic when it comes to the Lakers' long-term future. Advertisement The good news is that Reaves still has one year left on his deal, and while he does have a player option for the 2026-27 season, there's no doubt he will be declining that. L.A. and Reaves will revisit these talks at some point in the future, and while his decision to decline the aforementioned offer may seem like bad news, there's still a desire from both parties to come to terms on a long-term deal. Related: Lakers rumors: The 2 big men L.A. checked on last season before failed Mark Williams trade Related: Lakers rumors: Luka Doncic still 'motivated' by stunning Mavericks trade
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Proposed Trade Between Lakers and Pacers Shows What's Wrong With NBA
Proposed Trade Between Lakers and Pacers Shows What's Wrong With NBA originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After losing in the NBA Finals to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Indiana Pacers are expected to remain one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, although they will clearly take a step back with Tyrese Haliburton ruled out for the season with a torn Achilles. Advertisement Andrew Nembhard is more than capable of taking over playmaking duties, although Indiana is simply losing an All-NBA player. Regardless of position or role, that will hurt. As a result, the Pacers have already been included in trade rumors. Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, and Jarace Walker have all been included in speculation. For now, speculation is just that, although there is some merit to their making a trade. Mathurin's value is at an all-time high, Toppin is a movable salary who will get them back under the luxury tax after they extend Myles Turner, and Walker has not blossomed in Indiana and could use a change of scenery. While mock trades can be realistic, one from The Wrightway Sports Network simply misses the point. Advertisement Full Mock Trade Details: Los Angeles Lakers Receive: 2026 first-round pick, 2027 first-round pick, 2029 first-round pick, 2030 first-round pick, Myles Turner, Bennedict Mathurin Indiana Pacers Receive: Austin Reaves First of all, this trade doesn't work. Turner is expected to sign a contract worth roughly $35 million per season this summer, so the Pacers would send out around $45.1 million while taking on only $13.9 million in Reaves. On top of that, Indiana can't trade back-to-back picks, so two of those selections would have to be changed for swaps, not outright trades. The Lakers have long been linked to Turner despite the Pacers seeming hell-bent on keeping him in town, and the desire seems to go both ways. While Reaves would be an excellent fit in a Haliburton-less backcourt, four picks (or swaps) is way too much for a second or third option, and Turner and Mathurin are more than just matching salary, although they don't even do that. The proposed trade is a sobering reminder that the NBA offseason can quickly go off the rails with speculation and creativity, although a degree of realism is required, especially for a team that just made the Finals and shouldn't be eager for a total restructure of the roster. Advertisement Check out the All Pacers homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Rick Carlisle Sends Emotional Message to Tyrese Haliburton After Pacers' Finals Loss Related: Tyrese Haliburton Gets Brutally Honest About Injury, Pacers Losing Finals This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
