The Boston Celtics were able to add some key players through first-round selections. However, all of their picks in the first round did not pan out the way they hoped.
2013: Lucas Noguiera
Well, at least the Celtics were smart enough to draft this project and then send him to the Raptors. Unfortunately, part of that deal saw Lou Williams also go to Toronto for John Salmons and a 2015 second-round pick. The seven-foot Noguiera somehow has played in more playoff games (13) than regular-season contests (10). He’s back in Spain now, a bad pick and a good player to rid yourself of, quickly
2019: Romeo Langford
It is early in his career — as in he played in one game not adding up to a minute — but for the time being, Romeo Langford comes off as the worst No. 1 pick by the Celtics in the 2010s. The 14th overall pick did not make a dent on the main roster, instead winding up in Maine on the G League affiliate. He has played for the Celtics after Gordon Hayward suffered a fractured metacarpal in his left hand. He returned to the Red Claws and suffered an ankle sprain in the Red Claws’ home opener. A yo-yo season at best, up and down between the Celts and Maine.
2018: Robert Williams
Robert Williams followed the pattern Romeo Langford is on this season: some time in the G League to get seasoning before sticking with the big club.
Williams played in 32 NBA games last season, averaging 2.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 8.8 minutes per game. He’s on his way to doubling that already in 2019-20 with 4.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 14.2 minutes per game.
2011: MarShon Brooks
Another player chosen only to be dealt is MarShon Brooks, who was drafted by the with the 25th pick and traded to the New Jersey Nets for the Nets’ 27th overall pick in the draft (JaJuan Johnson) and a second round pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Brooks played a part in Celtics history, returning to the team as part of the trade that sent Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry to the Nets in 2013. The former Providence star only played 10 games as a Celtic. JaJuan Johnson was no better in Boston, playing in 36 games in his NBA career and averaging 3.2 ppg.
2012: Jared Sullinger
Jared Sullinger was a big man — 6-foot-9, 269 pounds — who came out of Ohio State as the 21st pick with a big reputation. He never quite lived up to it in his four seasons as a Celtic. Sullinger averaged 11.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in Green. He moved to Toronto for a short time before playing internationally.
2010: Avery Bradley
Avery Bradley was the 19th overall pick out of Texas. The guard wound up spending seven seasons with the Celtics. He averaged 12.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in 413 games, 340 of which he started. Since leaving Boston, he has played for four other teams.
2015: Terry Rozier
Terry Rozier spent four seasons in Boston, mainly coming off the bench. He made 30 starts in 272 games and averaged 7.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He’s moved on to the Hornets and is showing an offensive spark, checking in at 17.4 points per game.
2014: Marcus Smart
Marcus Smart came to the Celtics as the sixth overall pick out of Oklahoma State. He is fiery, ferocious, tenacious and everything a Celtic fan could want out of a player. Smart averages 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game for the Green this season. He also brings something that can’t be measured: Attitude.
2016: Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown has gotten better every season for Boston. He’s off to his best start scoring in 2019-20, averaging 18.8 points per game. The 6-foot-6 Brown was a second team All-Rookie player and simply fits beautifully with the player taken the following year in the first round …
2017: Jayson Tatum
The Celtics somehow always manage to find players who somehow become big-time stars in the NBA. Jayson Tatum is no exception. The third overall pick out of Duke became an All-Rookie team player in 2018. Tatum has increased his points, rebounds and assists per game in each of his three seasons. He’s a star and a sparkling spoke for the Celtics to keep and build around for years to come.
