On this date in Boston Celtics history, the team signed big man Amir Johnson to a two-year, $24 million contract. The Los Angeles native had previously played for the Toronto Raptors for the previous six seasons before decamping to the Celtics, and the Detroit Pistons for four more before that after being drafted directly out of high school by that team 56th overall 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 would leave the team in free agency to join the Philadelphia 76ers in the summer of 2017.