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Today in Boston Celtics history: Avery trade; Olynyk signs; Barnett born; Wallace passes
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- Today in Boston Celtics history: Avery trade; Olynyk signs; Barnett born; Wallace passes
Today in Boston Celtics history, Avery Bradley was traded, along with draft assets, to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Marcus Morris Sr., as part of the effort to create cap space following the signing of Utah Jazz star Gordon Hayward in 2017. Avery, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound native of Tacoma, Washington, was selected by the Celtics with the 19th overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft after playing his college ball at the University of Texas.
He quickly established himself as one of the league's premier man-to-man defenders while developing alongside the veteran core of the 2008 championship team. Subsequently, the Georgia native was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the 34th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Avery joined the Boston Celtics in a 2014 trade that involved sending Jameer Nelson and Brandan Wright to the Mavericks in exchange for Dwight Powell and Rajon Rondo .
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In total, the former Texas standout played for the team for seven seasons, averaging 12.1 points, 3.1 assists, and 1.7 rebounds per game.
Apr 8, 2012; Boston, MA USA; Philadelphia 76ers point guard Lou Williams (23) drives the ball against Boston Celtics center Ryan Hollins (50) and Boston Celtics shooting guard Avery Bradley (0) in the second half at the TD Banknorth Garden. The Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 103-79. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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It is also the date of two frontcourt signings for the Celtics. The first was the signing of big man Kelly Olynyk , who signed his rookie deal with Boston on this date in 2013. Olynyk, a former Gonzaga standout and a native of Canada, was traded to the Celtics immediately after being drafted 13th by the Dallas Mavericks . He played four seasons with Boston before leaving the team in free agency (also on July 7, oddly enough) for the Miami Heat in 2017. Olynyk logged 9.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game with the Celtics.
Jan 22, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk (41) shoots over Washington Wizards center Kevin Seraphin (13) and power forward Trevor Booker (35) during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
The second signing was former UConn standout Travis Knight, a 7-foot center signed as a free agent by team president and head coach Rick Pitino. The signing was controversial. His $22 million, seven-year deal required the Celtics to give up the rights to all of their pending free agents: Frank Brickowski, Marty Conlon, Todd Day, Nate Driggers, Rick Fox, Steve Hamer, Michael Hawkins, Alton Lister, and Brett Szabo. Knight played one season with Boston before being dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers for big man Tony Battie. He put up 6.5 points and 4.9 boards while in the green and white.
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Birthdays
Today is the birthday of former Celtic guard Jim Barnett, who was drafted by the team out of Oregon with the eighth pick of the 1966 NBA Draft. He played one season for Boston before being drafted by the (then) San Diego (now, Houston ) Rockets in the 1967 NBA Expansion draft. Barnett averaged 4.1 points and 1.1 boards per game that season.
Mar 5, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; The Boston Celtics logo is seen on the court before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Portland Trail Blazers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Ex-Boston guard John Simmons was also born today, a member of the inaugural season of the franchise in the 1946-47 Basketball Association of America (BAA — a precursor of the NBA) season, its first as well. Simmons, a graduate of NYU, averaged 5.3 points across his 60 games with the team.
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Gone too soon
Finally, it is also the date we lost Red Wallace in 1977. The Scranton native played 24 games for the Celtics in their inaugural season (1946-47) before the guard was dealt to the (defunct) Toronto Huskies for Charlie Hoefer.
Mar 5, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; The Boston Celtics logo is seen on the court before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Portland Trail Blazers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Later, he coached in the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL – that era's version of the G League), winning the EPBL championship in 1958–59 with the Wilkes-Barre Barons.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Today in Boston Celtics history: Avery trade; Olynyk signs; Barnett born; Wallace passes
