On this day in Boston Celtics history, the storied franchise signed Hall of Fame point guard Gary Dwayne Payton Sr. as an unrestricted free agent. The Glove — as Payton was called as a reference to his fabled defensive prowess — was approaching the twilight of his career at age 36, but still had some high-level play left in the tank to offer the Celtics.
The nine-time All-Star was technically in his second stint with the team, after having been dealt to the Celtics from the Los Angeles Lakers that past August in 2004. He was traded with Rick Fox and a 2006 first-round draft pick that would be used to select Rajon Rondo for Chucky Atkins, Jumaine Jones, and Chris Mihm.
Oddly enough, he was greatly displeased with having been dealt to the Celtics at first and refused to report to the team, but ultimately acquiesced. He was subsequently traded by Boston with Tom Gugliotta, Michael Stewart to the Atlanta Hawks for old friend Antoine Walker.