Today in Celtics history: Marbury born, Johnson traded
Chauncey Billups and Joe Johnson are probably the biggest what if Celtics of my lifetime— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) January 4, 2017
The trade, which netted Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk in exchange for Randy Brown, Milt Palacio and a conditional 2002 first round draft pick in addition to Johnson, was something of a loss in retrospect given Johnson's growth as a player and the fact that both Delk and Rogers left - Rogers in free agency, and Delk in a trade - after playing only 116 games combined for the club. However, the Delk/Antoine Walker trade would have the seed of the deal which brought Ray Allen and through him Kevin Garnett and Banner 17 to Boston in it, putting something of a better slant on the deal if taken in the long view.
It also happens to be the birthday of former Celtics guard Stephon Marbury, who turns 40 today. Marbury, who joined the Celts at the tail end of his career in the NBA (though he continues to play overseas), having signed with the club after falling out with then-coach of the New York Knicks, Mike D'Antoni and receiving a buyout. His single year in Boston - by far the worst of his career - was a shadow of his career averages of 19.3 points and 7.6 assists per game (only 3.8 and 3.3, respectively), leading the Celts to only offer him the veteran's minimum for the 2009-10 season. Marbury would instead head to China to play, where he continues to enjoy success. Except for when he tries to score on Guerschon Yabusele, anyway.
Out with the old and in with the new! Yabusele blocks Marbury https://t.co/SUVwyZFWsI— #Smart4President (@Celtics_Rise) December 15, 2016
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Data via basketball-reference.com
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