9 Players the Boston Celtics held on to for way too long

Semi Ojeleye (2017-21)

During the 2017 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics took a flier on Semi Ojeleye, an intriguing wing prospect out of SMU. But at least at the beginning, it was a struggle to see how Ojeleye was going to break into Boston’s rotation. And it just never seemed to click for him.

It’s easy to see the intrigue that surrounded Ojeleye as a prospect. Just looking at his measurables and natural ability, he’s a player that any team would want to invest time and effort into. He’s 6-foot-6 with a nearly 7-foot-wing span. He was considered one of the more NBA-ready players coming out of college and was viewed as a versatile forward with much promise and upside.

It simply didn’t work out for Ojeleye with the Celtics. Ojeleye got his opportunities with the Celtics but simply never developed into the player that the team hoped he would. However, the Celtics kept trying to make it happen with Ojeleye. After two seasons, it was pretty clear what Ojeleye was and what he wasn’t. Nevertheless, Boston gave him two more seasons after that.

During his final season with the Celtics, Ojeleye appeared in less than 60 games and averaged less than five points per contest. Boston moved on from Ojeleye after the 2020-21 NBA season.