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CBS News
20 hours ago
- Sport
- CBS News
How often have Celtics hit on second-round picks over the last 25 years?
The NBA Draft is, to put it nicely, a bit of a crapshoot. There is no guarantee even the top players selected will pan out to anything at the pro level. It gets even murkier when you get outside the lottery, and it essentially becomes teams taking flyers on players by the second round. Even if teams hit on second-round selections, those players don't usually become franchise-altering superstars, or even important role players for very long. There are exceptions, of course. Nikola Jokic was the 41st overall pick in 2014 and is one of the best players on the planet. Draymond Green (35th in 2012) and Khris Middleton (39th in 2012) both played key roles on championship teams. Isaiah Thomas wasn't drafted by the Celtics, but he carved out a nice career after he was the final pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. And another lifetime ago, the Celtics drafted a spunky kid out of BYU named Danny Ainge in the second round. He turned out to be a pretty good player and executive for Boston. But for the most part, second-round picks are back-end players to fill out the roster with a very small price tag attached. And before they become players on a team, the picks are nice and necessary filler to complete trades. Given the landscape in the new CBA, they are important assets for teams, which is why Brad Stevens has been stockpiling them over the last few years. Stevens snagged three additional second-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft when he traded the No. 32 pick to the Orlando Magic, landing the 46th pick (used to draft Kentucky big man Amari Williams) and the 57th (VCU guard Max Shulga) plus second-rounders in 2026 and 2027. He has a pretty good collection of second-round picks over the next seven years. Stevens has only been playing the executive game since June of 2021, so the jury is still out on most of his second-round picks. Here's a look back at the last 25 years of second-round picks by the Celtics, with some pretty solid hits in the mix and a lot of players we never saw don a Boston uniform. 2002: Darius Songalia, C, Wake Forest The big man from Lithuania never played for the Celtics, and was traded to the Sacramento Kings for a pair of second-round picks you'll meet later on this list. Songalia averaged 6.9 points and 3.4 rebounds over his eight NBA seasons or the Kings, Bulls, Wizards, Hornets, and 76ers. 2003: Brandon Hunter, PF, Ohio Hunter was taken with one of the picks acquired in the Songalia swap. He played in 36 games for Boston as a rookie, including 12 starts. His best game in Green was an 11-point, 16-rebound showing in a win over Toronto. But he only spent one season with Boston because the Charlotte Bobcats (remember them?) took him in the expansion draft in 2004, only to then trade him to the Orlando Magic. He played 31 games for the Magic in 2004-05, but that was the end of his NBA career. 2004: Justin Reed, PF, Ole Miss Reed was another explosive rebounder taken in the second round, but he played sparingly for a season-and-a-half before he was shipped to Minnesota in the 2006 trade that brought Michael Olowokandi and Wally Szczerbiak to Boston. He stuck with the Wolves until his NBA career ended in 2007. 2005: Ryan Gomes, PF, Providence; Orien Greene, PG, Ole Miss Gomes should have been a late-first-, early-second-round pick after a stellar career in Providence, but fell to Boston at 50th overall. He was a solid pro from the jump and ended up starting 33 games for the Celtics as a rookie. He started 60 of the 73 games he played in during the 2006-07 season, when Gomes averaged 12.1 points and 5.6 rebounds. But the 2006-07 season was a disaster for the Celtics, and that summer Gomes was part of the trade package in the franchise-altering Kevin Garnett trade. He played three seasons for Minnesota, two for the L.A. Clippers, and played in five games for Oklahoma City in 2013-14 before heading overseas for a few years. He started 371 of the 487 games he played over his eight-year NBA career. The Waterbury, Connecticut native started coaching in 2016, and is now an assistant in Providence. Despite playing just two seasons with the Celtics, Gomes is one of the better second-round picks by the team over the last 25 years. (Disclaimer: This is coming from a guy who still has a Ryan Gomes Celtics bobble head on his desk at work.) Greene was the second pick Boston got from the Songalia trade, and he played in 80 games for the Celtics as a rookie. He also got into some trouble off the court in March that earned him a suspension, and was waived by the team a few months later. Greene played just 50 more games in the NBA for the Pacers, Kings, and Nets. 2006: Leon Powe, PF, California The Celtics got Powe in a draft-night trade with the Nuggets, and though he played just three seasons in Boston, he's got a special place in franchise history. Powe's biggest game in Green was Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals when he dropped 21 points in only 15 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers. He flummoxed the Lakers so much it had a flustered Phil Jackson calling him Leon "Pow" after the game. He also played for Cleveland and Memphis during his career. Powe rejoined the Celtics in 2014 as a community ambassador, a role he still holds today. 2007: Glen Davis, PF, LSU; Gabe Pruitt, PG, UCS Davis was technically drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics 35th overall and then traded to Boston in the Ray Allen deal. In terms of second-round picks making an impact with the Celtics over the last quarter of a century, he's at the top of the list. "Big Baby" became an instant fan favorite with his jovial, kid-like persona. He played an important reserve role off the Celtics bench in the team's run to the 2008 NBA Championship, and played an even bigger role the following season when Kevin Garnett was lost to an injury. Davis' biggest play in Green came in the second round of the 2009 playoffs, when he drained a buzzer-beater against the Orlando Magic to lift Boston to a Game 4 victory. He averaged 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds that postseason, but the C's fell to the Magic in seven games without Garnett. Davis was back in his reserve role the following season, when he formed the famous "Shrek and Donkey" duo and drooled all over the court in the 2010 NBA Finals against the Lakers. Davis played four seasons with Boston before he was traded to the Magic for Von Wafer. He averaged 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds over his eight-year NBA career. Pruitt was taken three picks ahead of Davis, but averaged just 7.4 minutes in his 62 games for the Celtics over two seasons. That was it for his NBA career. 2008: Semih Erden, C, Turkey Erden didn't play for Boston until the 2010-11 season, and was traded to the Cavaliers that February for a second-round pick. He played in 69 games over his two-year NBA career for Boston and Cleveland. 2009: Lester Hudson, PG, University of Tennessee at Martin Hudson was taken 58th overall but played just 16 games for the Celtics before he was claimed off waivers by the Memphis Grizzlies. He averaged 4.7 points over 57 games over his four-year NBA career for Boston, Memphis, Washington, Cleveland, and the L.A. Clippers. 2010: Luke Harangody, PF, Notre Dame He was a star for the Irish, but played in only 29 games for the Celtics before he was sent to Cleveland along with Erden. Harangody played in just 70 games over his two seasons in the NBA. 2011: E'Twaun Moore, G, Purdue Moore played just 38 games for the Celtics before he was part of a three-team trade that brought Courtney Lee to Boston. But he carved out a solid 10-year NBA career, including a four-year stretch with the Pelicans where he averaged 10.7 points per game. 2012: Kris Joseph, G/F, Syracuse Joseph was taken 51st overall, and had two very brief stints with Boston. He played just six games for the C's before he was waived in January, and then signed with the Nets that April. He played in four game for Brooklyn, and was then traded back to Boston that summer in the giant return for Garnett and Paul Pierce. (You know, the one that brought in the picks used on Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.) Joseph was waived by Boston a few days later, and that was it for his NBA career. 2015: Jordan Mickey, PF, LSU; Marcus Thornton, G, William & Mary There was a ton of hype around Mickey, whom the Celtics drafted 33rd overall. But he averaged just 4.8 minutes in his 41 games over two seasons before he was waived by Boston. Mickey played 23 games for Miami in 2017-18, which was his final season in the NBA. Thornton played for the C's in the Summer League but then played overseas, outside of a brief appearance for the Maine Red Claws. 2016: Demetrius Jackson, PG, Notre Dame; Ben Bentil, PF, Providence; Abdel Nader, G, Iowa State There was a lot of hype around Nader, and he was a D-League All-Star and Rookie of the Year after being taken by Boston with the 58th pick. He signed a four-year contract in 2017, but bounced from the Celtics to the Red Claws that season and averaged just 10.9 minutes over 48 games for Boston. He was traded to OKC in 2018 and played two seasons for the Thunder and two seasons for the Phoenix Suns. Jackson played just five games for the Celtics, while Bentil was waived before the end of the preseason. 2017: Semi Ojeleye, F, SMU; Kadeem Allen, PG, Arizona; Jabari Bird, SG, California Ojeleye had ridiculously massive arms and was a pretty solid role player over his four seasons and 254 games for Boston. He played for the Bucks and Clippers during the 2021-22 season, which was his last in the NBA. Allen averaged just 5.9 minutes over his 18 games for the Celtics before he was waived, and closed his NBA career with 29 appearances for the Knicks over two seasons. Bird played 18 games for Boston in 2017-18, but was arrested on domestic abuse and kidnapping charges in September of 2018. He was traded to Atlanta for a conditional second-round pick in February of 2019, and waived by the Hawks the next day. 2019: Carsen Edwards, PG, Purdue; Tremont Waters, PG, LSU Edwards had some truly massive quads, but didn't do much over his two seasons with the Celtics. Waters played in 37 games for Boston over his two seasons, including four starts, but was not retained after the 2020-21 season. 2020: Yam Madar, G, Israel We heard a lot about Madar after the Celtics took him 47th overall in 2020. He was a draft-and-stash guy and has remained overseas other than a Summer League appearance in 2021. 2021: Juhann Begarin, SG, Guadeloupe Another draft-and-stash player for Boston. Begarin is currently with AS Monaco of the LNB Elite. 2022: JD Davison, PG, Alabama Davison has played in 36 games for Boston over the last three seasons, but has really thrived with the Maine Celtics. He averaged 25.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 7.5 assists last year to earn G League MVP honors, and had his contract converted to a standard NBA two-year deal in April. He will likely play a reserve role for Boston in 2025-26. 2023: Jordan Walsh, F, Arkansas Walsh has seen limited action in 61 games over his two seasons in the Celtics organization. He was the youngest player on the team in each of the last two seasons, and will have a chance to carve out a role on the 2025-26 Celtics. 2024: Anton Watson, F, Gonzaga Watson never played for the Celtics before he was waived in March. He was claimed by the Knicks a few days later and played nine games for New York.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Washington Wizards Starting Lineup Is Full Of Old-School Veterans
Washington Wizards Starting Lineup Is Full Of Old-School Veterans originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Washington Wizards are quietly reshaping their identity, not with flashy youth or a superstar trade, but by loading up on seasoned veterans to anchor a rebuilding franchise. Advertisement With the recent trade that sent Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for CJ McCollum and Kelly Olynyk, the Wizards' starting five now looks more like a '2017 All-Star reserves' lineup than the youthful rebuild many expected. The projected starting lineup heading into the 2025–26 season is: PG - Marcus Smart SG - CJ McCollum SF - Khris Middleton PF - Kelly Olynyk C - Alex Sarr Each of these names, aside from rookie big man Alex Sarr, has been in the league for a decade or more. The Wizards aren't building a title contender this season. They're playing the long game and using this collection of grizzled veterans as a bridge to a more promising future, both financially and on the court. Advertisement Marcus Smart, now 31, was traded midseason from Memphis last year and appeared in just 34 games due to injuries. He averaged 9.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, shooting 44.0% from the field and an impressive 39.2% from three. Though still respected as a defensive stalwart, his availability has been a concern, playing only 54 games over the last two years. He's entering the final year of his contract and could very well be flipped by the deadline if a contender needs backcourt depth. CJ McCollum, age 33, is in the last year of his deal and is coming off a quietly efficient season with the Pelicans, averaging 21.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. He shot 44.4% from the field and 37.3% from deep, proving he still has something left in the tank. For McCollum, this year is about proving he can still contribute meaningfully, either to earn a final major payday or land with a playoff-bound team next summer. Advertisement Khris Middleton, acquired in the trade that sent Kyle Kuzma to Milwaukee, exercised his $33 million player option this offseason. The 33-year-old forward is coming off his worst statistical year in nearly a decade, 10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting a paltry 27.7% from beyond the arc. Injuries and inconsistency have clearly caught up with him, and like the rest of this group, he's playing for one last payday or redemption shot in free agency. Kelly Olynyk, 34, has bounced around the league in recent years but remains a solid stretch big. Last season, split between Toronto and New Orleans, he averaged 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, shooting an impressive 41.8% from deep and 50.0% from the field. He brings leadership and shooting, both of which will be valuable for a young frontcourt partner like Alex Sarr. Advertisement And then, there's Sarr, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and the lone cornerstone of the future in this starting unit. As a rookie, Sarr averaged 13.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.5 blocks while shooting 39.4% from the field and 30.8% from three. He's still raw but has all the tools to be a defensive anchor and multi-level scorer in the modern NBA. With Poole out of the picture, Sarr becomes the clear focal point for Washington's developmental timeline. They surely can't be as bad as last season, when they had the second-worst record in the NBA with an abysmal 18–64 mark. This version of the Wizards might not contend, but with seasoned leadership and some young spark, they should at least present a more stable, competitive product night to night. The Wizards also boast a collection of intriguing young talent — Corey Kispert, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, and the No. 6 overall pick in the upcoming draft, which could potentially be Ace Bailey if his stock continues to slide. Advertisement Any of these young wings or guards could push for starting minutes if the veterans are moved or sidelined. The Wizards Will Have A War Chest In The 2026 Free Agency Ultimately, the true genius behind Washington's sudden pivot might not be found on the court this season but on the books. The Wizards are projected to have close to $100 million in cap space by the summer of 2026. With Smart, McCollum, Middleton, and Olynyk all coming off the books after this year, the franchise will be in a position that very few teams in the modern NBA have: nearly a clean slate and a mountain of cap flexibility. That kind of financial freedom, coupled with a few foundational young pieces and a war chest of draft assets, is the skeleton of a rebuild done right. The 2026 free agent class could include All-Star-caliber talent, and with the right pitch, Washington might become an unlikely destination, especially if Sarr or Coulibaly makes the leap. Advertisement In the meantime, the Wizards will lean on old legs to stabilize a young locker room, hoping that the veterans' professionalism helps set the tone for a franchise with eyes on a much brighter, cleaner, and richer future. Related: 9 Blockbuster Trades That Could Happen On 2025 NBA Draft Night This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Report: Wizards' Khris Middleton picks up $33.3M option
Three-time All-Star forward Khris Middleton picked up his $33.3 million player option for the 2025-26 season with the Washington Wizards, ESPN reported Monday. Middleton was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks, where he played for 12 seasons, to the Washington Wizards for Kyle Kuzma in a four-team deal on Feb. 6. The 33-year-old was a big part of the Bucks' NBA championship in 2021 but has been nagged by injuries in the years since. He finished the 2024-25 season with his lowest scoring average (11.9 points per game) and least amount of playing time (22.8 minutes per game) since his rookie season in 2012-13 with the Detroit Pistons. In 776 career games (671 starts) with Detroit (2012-13), Milwaukee (2013-2025) and Washington, Middleton has averaged 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He has converted 38.7 percent of his 3-point attempts and 87.8 percent of his free throws. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
Reuters
5 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Report: Wizards' Khris Middleton picks up $33.3M option
June 23 - Three-time All-Star forward Khris Middleton picked up his $33.3 million player option for the 2025-26 season with the Washington Wizards, ESPN reported Monday. Middleton was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks, where he played for 12 seasons, to the Washington Wizards for Kyle Kuzma in a four-team deal on Feb. 6. The 33-year-old was a big part of the Bucks' NBA championship in 2021 but has been nagged by injuries in the years since. He finished the 2024-25 season with his lowest scoring average (11.9 points per game) and least amount of playing time (22.8 minutes per game) since his rookie season in 2012-13 with the Detroit Pistons. In 776 career games (671 starts) with Detroit (2012-13), Milwaukee (2013-2025) and Washington, Middleton has averaged 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He has converted 38.7 percent of his 3-point attempts and 87.8 percent of his free throws. --Field Level Media
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
NBA Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers might bag 6-foot-7 ex-Milwaukee Bucks All-Star to form Big 3 with Luka and LeBron
Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic (77) and LeBron James, center, right, hug and celebrate late in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero) The NBA trade market never sleeps, and Khris Middleton's name is once again in the circuit. After being dealt from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Washington Wizards in a surprising deadline move, the three-time All-Star could be on the move again—this time, with the Los Angeles Lakers lurking as a possible suitor. Middleton, a key piece in the Bucks' 2021 championship run, has seen his production decline in recent years due to injuries. But for a Lakers squad in win-now mode, his playoff-tested scoring and veteran savvy could be exactly what they need to bolster their title hopes. A proposed sign-and-trade scenario has already surfaced, linking Middleton to L.A. in exchange for a package centered around Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent. Would this deal make sense for both sides? And could Middleton rediscover his form alongside LeBron James in Hollywood? Let's break it down. Proposed Trade Package for Khris Middleton In a recent trade proposal by Fade Away World , the Los Angeles Lakers would acquire Khris Middleton in a sign-and-trade deal, sending Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and the 2025 No. 55 overall pick to the Wizards. Here's a breakdown of the proposed trade: Lakers Receive Wizards Receive Khris Middleton Rui Hachimura - Gabe Vincent - 2025 No. 55 pick Why Khris Middleton Makes Sense for the Los Angeles Lakers Khris Middleton (Image via Getty) Middleton's skill set could fill key gaps in the Los Angeles Lakers ' roster. As Fade Away World noted: 'His experience and composure could provide the Lakers with a reliable scoring option and leadership presence, especially in high-pressure playoff situations. Middleton's ability to create his own shot and facilitate offense would complement LeBron James and Luka Doncic, and he could be a perfect third option at times.' (Ht: Sporting News) Additional benefits of adding Middleton include: - Playoff Pedigree: Championship experience from the Bucks' 2021 title run. - Versatile Scoring: Mid-range and perimeter shooting to space the floor. - Veteran Leadership: A steady presence for younger players. Potential Role in Los Angeles At this stage of his career, Khris Middleton may not be a full-time starter, but he could thrive in a sixth-man role. Key possibilities for his fit with the Los Angeles Lakers: - Providing 10-15 points per game off the bench. - Stepping into a larger role if injuries demand it. - Serving as a secondary playmaker alongside LeBron James. Also read: NBA Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers might chase $76,487,996 Washington Wizards superstar to bolster squad around Luka Doncic and LeBron James While Middleton isn't the same player he was during his All-Star peak, his championship experience and scoring ability could be valuable for a Lakers team looking to contend. If healthy, he might just be the missing piece they need. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
