Today in Boston Celtics history: Thompson, Counts, Bonham draft; Garnett cut; Jones signs
Today in Boston Celtics history, the storied ball club selected four notable players in the 1964 NBA Draft, which took place in New York City, as was typical during that era. However, they did not draft future Celtics champion forward Paul Silas, who was instead picked up by the then St. Louis Hawks (now Atlanta) in the second round of the draft with the 10th overall pick (the draft consisted of many more rounds in that era).
Silas played for the Hawks in St. Louis, and after they moved to Atlanta, Georgia as well as the Phoenix Suns before being dealt to Boston in the spring of 1972. There, he won two banners, be elected to multiple All-Defensive teams, and an All-Star Game -- among many other honors.
Transactions Boston instead took Joe Strawder with the 34th pick out of Bradley, but the big man never suited up for the Celtics. He was instead sent to the Detroit Pistons , where he played three seasons. The Celtics also drafted Ron Bonham out of Cincinnati with the 16th pick.
Bonham won two rings with Boston, in 1965 and 1966 -- his sole two seasons with the team. He averaged 6. 3 points, 1.
5 rebounds, and 0. 4 assists per game over that stretch. Boston selected big man Mel Counts with the seventh overall pick out of Oregon State, and Counts also won two titles with the Celtics, again in 1965 and 1966.