The Boston Celtics have made some hugely impactful trades during the NBA draft. Check out the miraculous story behind some of these deals.
The NBA draft is all about roster design. There are a lot of different strategies out there, but let’s stick with what legendary Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach once offered: “They said you have to use your five best players but I found you win with the five who fit together the best.”
With that frame, the draft offers a tantalizing number of opportunities. Sure, you can select the best available player and hope he grows with your system. But fortune favors the bold — the NBA draft is a chance to really swing for the fences and bring in the right player. A smart trade on draft night can change everything.
Boston, unsurprisingly, has a history of moving and shaking far beyond the limited frame of their own specific pick. Following the leadership of Auerbach, the Celtics’ NBA draft trade history is a rich and storied one. As we’ll see, some of the franchise’s best players landed in green by way of a draft-day trade. Let’s discuss.
On this day in 1966, Celtics legend Red Auerbach named Bill Russell his successor as head coach, 9 years after they drafted Sam Jones.
On this day in Boston Celtics history, legendary coach and general manager Red Auerbach announced iconic Boston big man Bill Russell would replace him as head coach.
Earlier in the season, Auerbach revealed the 1965-66 NBA season would be his last as head coach, and after losing Game 1 of the 1966 NBA Finals, the Celtics luminary revealed Russell would succeed him. The Louisiana native would become the first Black head coach of any major professional sports team in North America — never mind just basketball — and Boston went on to win the 1966 NBA championship.
Auerbach stayed on as the team’s general manager until late in the 1980s and remained involved in team affairs until he passed away in 2006.
Former Philadelphia 76ers big man Theo Ratliff discusses the offensive struggles of All-Star Ben Simmons.
Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons is one of the more talented and accomplished players in the league. His resume is very impressive for somebody who is only 25-years old as he is able to do it all out on the floor.
That is, except for one glaring weakness that continues to hold him back a bit.
Simmons has continued to show that he can knock down a variety of jump shots and 3-pointers in pickup games over the summer, but he still refuses to pull it out in a game and that is what’s so frustrating about him. He is already an elite player, but if he would just take a couple of jump shots and add to his offensive game, he would take the next step as a player.
Former Sixers big man Theo Ratliff joined Sirius XM NBA Radio to discuss Simmons and his struggles:
It’s more about Ben to me than anything because for you to be an All-Star, MVP-caliber player, all you have to do is develop a 10 foot jump shot. Even when when I played, we had Eric Snow, who was considered not to be a shooter, but he worked on his craft, enough to where Eric took some of the biggest shots we had in the in the game at points and made them. That only comes with practice and I just don’t get him just refusing to actually shoot a 10-foot jumper and being able to be consistent at that and being the type of player that he is.
🔊 Ben Simmons is reportedly asking out of Philadelphia.
At this point, Simmons and the Sixers are at a point of no return with Simmons asking for a trade. If he ever does develop a jump shot, it will be interesting to see how he takes that next step, but he, unfortunately, will not be doing that in Philadelphia.
On this day in 2007, the Boston Celtics traded Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, cash and draft considerations for Kevin Garnett.
On this day in 2007, the Boston Celtics traded for Minnesota Timberwolves star big man Kevin Garnett.
The Big Ticket had initially been reluctant to agree to sign an extension with the Celtics should they deal for him given the dearth of high-level talent on the roster save for forward Paul Pierce, but a move that brought sharpshooting UConn product Ray Allen on board earlier that summer was tantalizing enough for Garnett to seal the deal.
KG agreed to sign a three-year extension to add to the two remaining seasons on his existing contract, and the deal was consummated soon after.
The South Carolinian was dealt for Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, cash and draft considerations.
Garnett would win a title with the team in 2008, be elected Defensive Player of the Year that season, make five All-Star games, and earn many more such honors during his six seasons with the team.
Sixers Wire takes a look back at the All-Star season of Theo Ratliff in 2001 with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Every franchise has that fluky All-Star player that has a terrific season and then he never reaches that level again. For the Philadelphia 76ers, that came in 2001 when big man Theo Ratliff was selected as an All-Star before going down with an injury and was then traded to the Atlanta Hawks for Dikembe Mutombo.
Ratliff averaged a career-high 12.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks in 50 games before the trade and he never reached that level again. Mostly due to injuries and age, but the 2001 season was special for the big man.
Most of his success came on the defensive side of the ball, as the 6’10” big man averaged double digits in scoring just four times in his career.
His offensive production and team success both hit a peak in 2001, however, as playing with Allen Iverson on a 56-win, Finals-bound team helped Ratliff get a little more recognition.
Putting up 12.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.7 blocks and shooting 49.9 percent from the field, Ratliff was a surprising All-Star, but unfortunately he never even got to play in the game because of an injury.
Ratliff was a key member of that Sixers team despite not being able to be a part of the playoff run to the Finals. His early-season production allowed the Sixers to acquire an upgrade in Mutombo and Philadelphia did make the most of the deal. [lawrence-related id=33750,33740,33730]
We now move on to the fifth and final installment of the top five rankings as we now rank the top five centers in Philadelphia 76ers history.
The center position on a basketball team needs to be the anchor of the team on the defensive end as well as being the guy who provides post play on the offensive end. The Philadelphia 76ers have had a lot of players do this for their team as they have done a solid job of doing both of those things for the team to be successful.
We have counted down the top five players at each position so far, but now we are moving on to the final position in the lineup: centers. Make sure you check out our previous rankings for the other four positions if you have not seen them yet.
Former Philadelphia 76ers big man Theo Ratliff reminisces on the 2001 Sixers and the greatness of Allen Iverson.
The 2000-01 Philadelphia 76ers were a magical bunch. Led by MVP Allen Iverson, they battled through a tough Eastern Conference and reached the NBA Finals. They knocked off the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the series, their only loss in the playoffs, but the powerful dup of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal were too much for the Sixers to handle.
Theo Ratliff was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in order for the Sixers to acquire Dikembe Mutombo so he was not a part of the playoff run, but he had a helluva season before the trade. He averaged 12.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and he led the league with 3.7 blocks per game and his season was cut short after 50 games with the right wrist injury.
Yeah, the 2000-01 season [with Philadelphia]. It was kind of bittersweet because that was the year I got traded as well, but we were at the top of the league at the beginning of the season. We had the best record in the NBA at the time. I made All-Star for the first time, but I ended up breaking my hand. You know, leading in all these categories with my man Allen Iverson. Then, I ended up getting traded to the Hawks, so it was bittersweet. But it was fun all the way up until that point. (laughs)
Playing with a guy like Iverson can be a privilege. The 2000-01 season was his finest as he went on to win MVP averaging 31.1 points, 4.6 assists, and a league-leading 2.5 steals. He battled through numerous injuries to throw the Sixers on his back when they needed and he delivered virtuoso performances against the Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Lakers in the playoffs.
It was those performances that marveled Ratliff as he praised Iverson saying:
You’re talking about a tremendous competitor. To this day, I still don’t know how he did the things that he did and how he was able to push through certain injuries. When he sprained his ankle, it looked like he broke his ankle, but then he’d be right back out here. His will and determination and pain tolerance was right up there with Kobe [Bryant]. He was just able to will himself to do certain things. When we were down, we knew where to go. We’d find him, he’d find the ball, and he would just take over games. Just from his leadership on the floor, that helped us be at our best. We had a lot of guys who were just kind of journeyman guys who hadn’t really stepped out and came into their own when we came over to the Sixers to play alongside him – guys like Aaron McKie, Eric Snow, George Lynch. He helped push us and elevated our game and our status as NBA players. He’s a tremendous guy, a tremendous person as well. Very giving, very family-oriented. He takes his time, even to this day, to speak to your kids and give his story and talk about what he did and the ups and downs of his life. He’s just a tremendous individual.
There is no doubt about it that the 2001 Sixers were a special bunch led by the undeniable greatness of Iverson. While Ratliff was not able to be a part of the playoff run, his high level of production allowed the team to get a huge piece like Mutombo to go for it. [lawrence-related id=28493,28481,28474]
Retired NBA player Theo Ratliff was recently a guest on The HoopsHype Podcast. Ratliff recorded the 22nd-most blocks in NBA history and he averaged 7.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.4 blocks over the course of his 16-year career. HoopsHype talked to Ratliff about his NBA career, today’s centers, playing with Allen Iverson, life after basketball and more. Listen to the interview above or read the transcribed Q&A below.
In today’s NBA, big men are being forced to evolve and the Houston Rockets are even going away from centers entirely. What are your thoughts on how the NBA is changing?
Theo Ratliff: I think the game has definitely changed. Back in my day, everything was kind of based on the big man being dominant in the post. With the evolution of analytics and their calculations that have people shooting more three-pointers and more layups and not really focusing on their mid-range game or post-ups, it has really changed the game. Plus, you have so much more open space now and you can’t armbar guys, you can’t check guys who are coming down the middle and different things of that nature. It opens up the lanes so much because they’re taking so much away as far as what the defense can do.
It makes the offense look great and you can have really small guys like Trae Young and Kemba Walker and some of the other guards you see. But back in the day, they would’ve struggled going up against Gary Payton or Michael Jordan, you know what I mean? Those guys were guarding point guards back in the day and you could hit guys a lot more. I tell these guys all the time: It was against the law if you didn’t throw an elbow before you went to get a rebound. (laughs) Now, if you throw an elbow, you get kicked out immediately. It’s so different, just the physicality of the game. But it has opened it up and it’s made it a lot easier for a lot of the common people to understand and see the game a lot better, even if it doesn’t get as physical.
What do you make of the offensive changes to the center position?
TR: It’s changed a lot. Even when I was playing, they started moving toward that. I was more of a 16-to-17-foot shooter, but now they’re pushing those guys out to the three-point line. You see that with [Brook] Lopez and some of these people you don’t even know out there shooting threes as centers and their coaches don’t even care if they miss it! If we shot outside of that 15-to-17-feet-range, we was sitting on the bench! (laughs) “That isn’t what you do!” We were supposed to battle in the post, get rebounds, set picks, roll, dunk on people and be aggressive. But it’s definitely moved more toward the outside shooting, and all of the kids – even the big kids, like my kids – all they want to do is shoot three-pointers all of the time. That’s what they want to do. With the evolution of the game and then with Golden State becoming who they are and winning championships how they play, it just kind of elevated the game into that.
You have the 22nd-most blocks in NBA history. You need to have great timing and instincts to be an elite shot-blocker. Can you teach those things or is it one of those things where you either have it or you don’t?
TR: Oh, you can definitely develop it. It’s all about muscle memory and timing and visualization. I was just talking to a guy today about how to master whatever it is that you do and it’s all about visualization – seeing things before they happen. Also, doing a lot of studying of other players and their tendencies, where the ball will be in certain offenses, who likes to drive versus who likes to post and different things in the game that help you visualize how you’re going to play against that specific opponent and where you need to be to help.
We talked about how much the game has changed, but are there any active players who sort of remind you of yourself?
TR: Yeah, I think the guy we, the Hawks, just acquired: Clint Capela. He definitely mirrors my mentality and approach to the game. He’s not a guy who really worries about being a major part of the offense, but he’s always looking to help his teammates by blocking shots and rebounding the ball.
Robert Skeoch /Allsport
Looking back on your career, which season was the most fun for you? Is there a single season that stands out?
TR: Yeah, the 2000-01 season. It was kind of bittersweet because that was the year I got traded as well, but we were at the top of the league at the beginning of the season. We had the best record in the NBA at the time. I made All-Star for the first time, but I ended up breaking my hand. You know, leading in all these categories with my man Allen Iverson. Then, I ended up getting traded to the Hawks, so it was bittersweet. But it was fun all the way up until that point. (laughs)
Speaking of Allen Iverson, what was it like playing with him? And can you speak to the basketball and cultural impact that he had?
TR: You’re talking about a tremendous competitor. To this day, I still don’t know how he did the things that he did and how he was able to push through certain injuries. When he sprained his ankle, it looked like he broke his ankle, but then he’d be right back out here. His will and determination and pain tolerance was right up there with Kobe. He was just able to will himself to do certain things. When we were down, we knew where to go. We’d find him, he’d find the ball, and he would just take over games. Just from his leadership on the floor, that helped us be at our best. We had a lot of guys who were just kind of journeyman guys who hadn’t really stepped out and came into their own when we came over to the Sixers to play alongside him – guys like Aaron McKie, Eric Snow, George Lynch. He helped push us and elevated our game and our status as NBA players. He’s a tremendous guy, a tremendous person as well. Very giving, very family-oriented. He takes his time, even to this day, to speak to your kids and give his story and talk about what he did and the ups and downs of his life. He’s just a tremendous individual.
You defended so many star players. Who was the toughest player for you to guard?
TR: Oh man, without a doubt it was big Shaq! (laughs) He outweighed me by 100 pounds and when I had to guard that guy, I woke up a lot more sore the next day. Then, there’s a guy like Alonzo Mourning, who was just so aggressive. He really taught me how to play in the league and helped me build myself up – build my body and my strength up – to be able to go match-up against those kind of guys. They really pushed me. The style of the game then kind of pushed me to be in the weight room and pound dumbbells. Now, it’s more linear and resistance and people aren’t really trying to get big. I had to try to get big and strong to be able to hold my own against those 280-pound centers and that was a feat. (laughs)
What was it like for you to transition to retirement?
TR: After playing 16 years and moving around while having a family – I have four girls and had two 1-year-old sons (at the time) – it was a matter of me wanting to be home more and be around my teenage girls and be “Daddy” 100 percent of the time rather than moving all around the country and flying all over the place. I was comfortable with retirement.
How nice was it to spend that additional time with your family?
TR: It was awesome because you can’t get those years back. When you’re moving around, you don’t realize until you stop. You’re like, “Okay, I’m still here. I’m still taking them to school… “ But your mind is so inundated with the game and your schedule and what you have to do, so it takes over. You don’t even recognize it until you stop. It’s just natural because you’ve done that for so long.
Right after you retired, did you ever get the itch to play again?
TR: Nah, nah. It wasn’t tough for me at all. I had moved on from it and after playing 16 years, I felt I had served myself enough. And with how the game was changing in different ways, it was time for me to make that transition.
Dwight Howard, Theo Ratliff at charity event (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images for Laureus)
You put out an anti-bullying children’s book called “Theo the Hero” and your foundation has done a lot of work to try to prevent bullying. When did you realize that you wanted to use your platform to spread this anti-bullying message?
TR: It’s something that’s always been close to my heart. In the book, I talk about myself and being bullied as a young kid. It’s such a big, big problem throughout the world – especially with the advent of social media. We used to say, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” But that’s really not true. When people say something and it’s constantly said by 10-to-15 people, or you go to social media and it’s said by thousands of people, that can be a real detriment to that particular person – especially with kids, who can be so influenced by what people say about them. That’s just a message that I try to give to the kids and the community because it turns into a lot of suicides and things of that nature, which was alarming to me as well. I just try to stay on top of that with all of the kids that I speak with.
Was being the tallest kid in the class part of why you were bullied?
TR: Yeah, I was a long and skinny guy and I was getting hand-me-downs from my older brother, who I was taller than. Now, the high-water jeans are in, but back then they weren’t! (laughs) There were just different things, growing up in a less fortunate situation. We were in the projects, so we didn’t really have the money to get the latest and the greatest stuff.
Now, seeing kids taking pictures of other kids and posting it on social media and talking about their clothes and things like that, there’s really nothing they can do about it. But they keep sitting there and checking that ridicule. It’s something that touched me. Being around kids and seeing different things, I wanted to share my story -– where I came from and making it to the NBA – because it’s invigorating to me.
That’s very cool. How much basketball do you watch these days?
TR: I’ve always been a fan of the game since I was 12 years old and that never stops. Especially once I had kids and now have twin sons who are playing, it’s something that I enjoy. I like watching every season to see how guys are growing and who’s getting better and which teams are getting better. I really enjoy watching Milwaukee and how they’re maturing. You saw it from the Pistons, the Lakers, the Celtics; everybody has to get over their hump. It takes you losing and feeling that grit to come back next year and be better, and you see that maturity from Milwaukee. And I love to see which pieces different teams are picking up and that whole aspect of the game.
What are some of your other off-court endeavors right now?
TR: One of the major projects I’m working on now is in the commodities industry, I’m trying to do some distribution of some jet fuel, oil and gas. That’s taking up a lot of my time right now. It’s a very interesting, very interesting, industry.
