On this day in Boston Celtics history, the storied franchise traded away Hall of Fame big man Bob McAdoo. His tenure with the Celtics was a short and awkward one, as McAdoo did not want to play for Boston, and team general manager Red Auerbach nearly quit his job after owner John Y. Brown used multiple draft picks to secure McAdoo’s services.
The Celtics already had a future Hall of Fame center — Dave Cowens — who was also the head coach, so Brown’s meddling very nearly became a serious disaster. Red would decide to stay and McAdoo was traded as compensation for Boston signing future coach and general manager M.L. Carr as a player.
Ironically, Boston ended up getting back the draft assets that would be used to get both Kevin McHale and Robert Parish on the team in the near future.
Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images
It is also the date that the Celtics sent forward Cedric Maxwell to the Los Angeles Clippers for big man Bill Walton.
Maxwell was drafted by Boston out of Charlotte with the 12th overall pick of the 1977 NBA draft, had played eight seasons with the Celtics before the trade.
Washington Bullets Greg Ballard (42) has a two point attempt at the basket blocked by Boston Celtics Cedric Maxwell (31) during the first half of their NBA playoff game at the Capital Centre in Landover, Md., May 1, 1982. Ballard was forced to use two hands to regain possession of the one-handed attempt at the two points. (AP Photo/William A. Smith)
The North Carolina native would win two titles, a Finals MVP and several other honors before being supplanted in the starting lineup by Kevin McHale.
Maxwell logged 13.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.3 rebounds per game with Boston.
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
