Today in Boston Celtics history, the storied franchise secured a two-year, $24 million contract with big man Amir Johnson. The Los Angeles native previously played for the Toronto Raptors for six seasons before joining the Celtics, and he spent an additional four seasons with the Detroit Pistons after being drafted directly out of high school as the 56th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.
Johnson was a key part of the franchise’s post-Banner 17 rebuild, anchoring the team’s interior as a veteran presence while averaging 6.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.9 blocks per game.
Johnson left the team in free agency to join the Philadelphia 76ers in summer 2017.
Transactions
Today is also the date Boston dealt guard Chris Babb and forward Gerald Wallace to the Golden State Warriors for big man David Lee. Lee played just 30 games for the team before being waived by the Celtics, logging 7.1 points, 4.3 boards, and 1.8 assists per game with Boston.
It is also the anniversary of forward Jonas Jerebko signing with the team. The Swedish Larry Bird — as he was sometimes called — signed a three-year, $14.5 million deal with the Celtics that same day. Jerebko had previously played five seasons with the Pistons and provided critical shooting off the bench. The Kinna, Sweden native averaged 4.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while with the team, signing with the Utah Jazz as a free agent in 2017.
Birthdays
Today is the birthday of former Celtics forward Jordan Mickey, born in Dallas, Texas in 1994 and selected 33rd overall out of LSU by Boston in the 2015 NBA Draft. Mickey played two seasons with the team, in which he recorded 1.4 points and 1.1 rebounds per game, and was waived by the Celtics in 2017.
He shares his birthday with former Boston point guard Al Butler, born in Rochester, New York in 1938. Butler was picked up by the Celtics with the 17th overall pick of the 1961 NBA Draft and played just five games with the team before his rights were sold to the New York Knicks.
Ex-Celtic power forward Ron Grandison shares the birthday as well, coming into this world in 1964 in Los Angeles, California. He was signed as a free agent by Boston in 1988, and played one season with the team, averaging 2.5 points and 1.3 boards per game.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Today in Boston Celtics history: Johnson, Jerebko signed; Lee trade; Paxson, Mickey born
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