7 Stars the Celtics missed drafting by a single pick

6. Curtis Rowe

The Celtics won 11 titles in 13 years from 1957 to 1969, but they missed the playoffs in 1970 and 1971. It was the only two times between 1951 and 1977 that happened. It was an incredible run, but Boston struck out in a few drafts.

In 1971, they selected Clarence Glover tenth overall. The 6’8 big man led Western Kentucky to the Final Four but played just 25 NBA games. He averaged 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds in 4.8 minutes per game before being let go. Glover was a draft bust, and an All-Star was waiting on the board for Boston.

The Pistons selected Rowe 11th overall and helped him blossom into an All-Star in his five years in Detroit. The 6’7 forward averaged 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 37.5 minutes per game in 1976 before being traded to Boston in a three-team deal that featured Paul Silas and Ralph Simpson.

It turned into a disaster trade for the Celtics as Rowe’s production plummeted. There was excitement after the deal, but it quickly vanished. He certainly wasn’t a star in Beantown and being selected by the Cs is an interesting what-if. Does Rowe become an All-Star? It certainly did not work during his prime, but things may have changed if they drafted him.