On this day in Boston Celtics history, the storied franchise drafted four players of note in the 2019 NBA draft. With the 51st pick, the Celtics selected 5-foot-10 point guard Tremont Waters out of Louisiana State University. He would later sign with the team as a two way player who spent most of his rookie season with the Maine Red Claws — the Celtics’ G League developmental affiliate. There, he would earn G League Rookie of the Year honors while averaging 18 points, 3.2 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 2 steals per game while shooting 7.1 3-pointers per game with 35.4 % accuracy in his inaugural season. He was with the team for two seasons (all as a two way player), with a career average of 3.8 points and 2.1 assists per game at the NBA level.
With the 33rd pick (via the Philadelphia 76ers), the Celtics took 5-foot-11 shooting guard Carsen Edwards out of Purdue. The Texan guard averaged 3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game with the parent club, and 22.2 points, 5.2 boards, 3.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game with the Maine Red Claws (now, Celtics) in his rookie season. Edwards has a career average of 3.6 points and 1.1 boards per game in the NBA with the Celtics, signing with the Detroit Pistons after two seasons in the league in Boston.
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With the 22nd pick of the draft, Boston selected 6-foot-6 forward Grant Williams from Tennessee. Williams quickly found a role as a rotation player in his rookie season despite an epic cold shooting streak and recorded 3.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and an assist per game in his first season in the league. After four seasons with the team, he was signed-and-traded to the Dallas Mavericks, and averaged 6.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per contest with Boston.
May 25, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (12) smiles as he warms-up prior to game five of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Using the 14th overall pick of the draft, the Celtics took 6-foot-4 shooting guard Romeo Langford out of Indiana. Langford spent much of his rookie season injured, but still managed to display some intriguing ability on defense while logging 2.6 points and 1.2 boards per contest. The New Albany native was dealt to the San Antonio Spurs at the 2022 trade deadline with Josh Richardson and draft assets for Derrick White, and logged 3.6 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in his time with the Celtics.
It is also the birthday of former Boston big man Fab Melo (rest in peace), the team’s 22nd pick of the 2012 draft. He averaged 1.2 points per game in his sole season with the Celtics in just six games played with the team, and would be dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies for Donte Greene. It’s the birthday of another former Boston big, Darko Milicic, who had the briefest of tenures with the Celtics. Signed with the team in September 2012, he would appear in a single game before leaving the team for personal reasons. He scored a rebound in that game and nothing else.
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Finally, it is the birthday of former Boston forward Rodney Rogers, who came to the team in a deal from the Phoenix Suns with Tony Delk for Randy Brown, Joe Johnson, Milt Palacio, and draft considerations in 2002. Rogers would play 27 games for the Celtics in 2001-02, averaging 10.7 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, leaving the team in free agency the following summer.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Boston drafts Langford, Williams, Edwards, Waters