Boston Celtics: 3 drafted players who had great careers elsewhere

Al Jefferson, C (Drafted 15th overall in 2004)

First up on our list we have a player who was seen as the key cog in the 2007 megadeal that brought 2020 Hall of Fame inductee Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics. Reportedly highly coveted by, then, Minnesota Timberwolves Vice President (and former Celtics great) Kevin McHale, Al Jefferson was seen as a building block for the Wolves franchise in the wake of Garnett’s grand departure from the franchise.

Though the team only managed to muster 22 victories during his first season with the franchise, the center proved himself to be one of the premier big men the NBA had to offer. Finishing the season averaging 21 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game on 50 percent shooting from the field Jefferson was one of only four players to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds on the season. He won Western Conference Player of the Week honors that January and, by season’s end, ranked third in the league in double-doubles, fifth in rebounds and 12th in efficiency.

Jefferson would later go on to play with three more franchises — his prime spanning from 2008-2014 — seeing much success that, frankly, tended to fly under the radar. A 2014 All-NBA selection, Jefferson finished off his playing NBA days in 2018 with solid averages of 15.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game on 50 percent shooting from the field, the big man had himself quite an underrated career in the league.

Not an all-time great talent by any means, but when listing the top big men during the late aughts and early 2010’s, it would be remiss not to mention Al Jefferson amongst this crop of players.