On this day in Boston Celtics history, the team selected one player of note in the 2018 NBA draft, held in New York City, New York. To the surprise of virtually everyone, raw but promising Texas A&M big man Robert Williams III, a rim-running, shot-blocking prospect, slid to the Celtics at No. 27.

Timelord — as Williams came to be called — is in his third season with Boston. While he had to deal with yet another season plagued with injury, he has shown considerable growth on both ends of the floor. He even stole the team’s starting role by the end of the 2020-21 NBA season and earning All-Defensive Second Team honors in the subsequent season.

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Traded by Boston to the Portland Trail Blazers in 2023, injuries have plagued his career in recent years, but the Louisiana native appears to be on the mend in terms of health.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 30: Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics fouls OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors during the second quarter in Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 30, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 30: Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics fouls OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors during the second quarter in Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 30, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

It is also the anniversary of the trade that sent former Boston big man Eric Montross to the Dallas Mavericks with a draft pick in exchange for the draft assets that became Antoine Walker and Ron Mercer. Montross had been drafted by the Celtics with the ninth pick of the 1994 NBA draft and averaged 8.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game over two seasons with Boston.

In 1950, the Celtics sold the rights of small forward George “the Golden Greek” Kaftan to the New York Knicks. Kaftan had been drafted by Boston out of Holy Cross with the fourth overall pick of the 1949 Basketball Association of America (BAA – a precursor league to the NBA). He played for the franchise for two seasons, logging an average of 11 points and 2.7 assists per game with the Celtics.

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Timelord drafted; Eric Montross, George Kaftan traded