11 Players the Celtics never should have gambled on

3. Pervis Ellison

The Celtics signed the former number-one overall pick in 1994 after he was released by the Washington Bullets. Ellison was just two years removed from averaging 20.0 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game while winning Most Improved Player. Injuries hampered the 6’9 big man throughout his first five years in the NBA, but Boston dreamed of what he could do if he was finally healthy.

Ellison got a six-year $12 million contract from the Celtics, which quickly turned into a disaster. He played just 55 games and averaged fewer than 20 minutes in his first season. His playing time decreased in the playoffs and it was the only time the Celtics would qualify in his six seasons with the team. Over his final four years in Boston, Ellison played a total of 69 games, including missing the entire 1998-99 season with an ankle injury.

The 6’9 big man averaged 4.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.0 block in just 17.4 minutes per game during his time with the Celtics. He was rarely on the floor and struggled to make a significant impact when he was.

Pervis Ellison played just nine more NBA games before retiring in 2000. The 33-year-old had nothing left in the tank and certainly underperformed after a stellar college career.