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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Danny Ainge's final Boston Celtics draft class helped pave way to title
While the 2020 NBA Draft was remote in the middle of the pandemic, it ended up being an important night for the Celtics. That was also then-Boston president Danny Ainge's final draft class for the C's as he nailed a couple first-round picks. He then made way for Brad Stevens a few months later. Turns out, those picks were huge for the Celtics to help them win the 2024 NBA title. Back then, the C's selected Aaron Nesmith at No. 14 and Payton Pritchard at No. 26 in the first round. They also traded away the pick that became Desmond Bane, along with taking Yam Madar in the second round. Advertisement But the two draft picks in Nesmith and Pritchard became big hits, especially considering where they were taken. Pritchard enjoyed a breakout 2024-25 season, being named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year. Notably, he became a key part of the rotation this season as a playoff contributor. Plus, his four-year, $30 million contract is one of the best value deals in the league. Nesmith also showcased how good he can be as he helped the Pacers stun the Knicks in Game 1 of the East Finals. The Vanderbilt product couldn't get consistent playing time on a crowded Celtics roster as he was part of the 2022 NBA Finals run. But Nesmith was also a part in landing Malcolm Brogdon from the Pacers back in the 2022 offseason. While Brogdon only spent one season with the Celtics, also earning Sixth Man of the Year honors, his contract was also important. Brogdon was part of the trade package sent to the Trail Blazers to get Jrue Holiday, who had just been traded from the Bucks. Holiday, of course, was an integral member of the 2024 NBA title run. So, it took a few steps, but the C's benefited as they got to their ultimate goal of Banner No. 18. Nesmith struggled to get playing time in Boston, but he's now a starting piece for the Indiana operation. He's averaging 16.0 points and 6.1 rebounds in 11 playoff games, including shooting 53.8% on his 3-pointers. Nesmith is also an energy guy as that's been evident during this Pacers run to the East Finals and perhaps beyond. Advertisement Pritchard figures to be part of the Celtics for the foreseeable future. He proved last season that he can impact the game on a nightly basis and in a playoff setting. The C's will look to offload salary this summer to cut down on costs, so Pritchard could see his role expand depending on what moves the front office makes this summer. So, Ainge's final draft class ended up helping the Celtics significantly now five years later. Of course, drafting Jaylen Brown then Jayson Tatum in back-to-back years laid the foundation for years to come. But one of his lesser-known draft classes, in a couple solid picks, also helped along the way. More Celtics content Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What is the story behind the Boston Celtics 2008 NBA Championship?
What is the story behind the Boston Celtics 2008 NBA Championship? What is the story behind the Boston Celtics 2008 NBA Championship? Led by a trio of future Hall of Fame stars in small forward Paul Pierce, power forward Kevin Garnett, and shooting guard Ray Allen with floor general Rajon Rondo and big man Kendrick Perkins, the so-called 'Ubuntu' era Celtics came together almost out of nowhere in the summer of 2007 under the organization of then-Boston President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. So how did this legendary Celtics squad actually end up coming together? The folks behind the "NBC Sports Boston" YouTube channel put together a clip telling the tale for a new generation of Boston fans -- or reminding us old farts of the magic of that era. Advertisement Check it out below to see it for yourself! If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," "Celtics Lab," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network. Listen to the "Celtics Lab" podcast on: Apple Podcasts: Spotify: This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: What is the story behind the Celtics 2008 NBA Championship?
USA Today
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
What is the story behind the Boston Celtics 2008 NBA Championship?
What is the story behind the Boston Celtics 2008 NBA Championship? What is the story behind the Boston Celtics 2008 NBA Championship? Led by a trio of future Hall of Fame stars in small forward Paul Pierce, power forward Kevin Garnett, and shooting guard Ray Allen with floor general Rajon Rondo and big man Kendrick Perkins, the so-called 'Ubuntu' era Celtics came together almost out of nowhere in the summer of 2007 under the organization of then-Boston President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. So how did this legendary Celtics squad actually end up coming together? The folks behind the "NBC Sports Boston" YouTube channel put together a clip telling the tale for a new generation of Boston fans -- or reminding us old farts of the magic of that era. Check it out below to see it for yourself! If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," "Celtics Lab," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network. Listen to the "Celtics Lab" podcast on: Apple Podcasts: Spotify:
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Karen Read murder case: Fired investigator Michael Proctor to loom over retrial as jury selection begins
Karen Read, the Massachusetts woman whose sensational murder trial ended with a hung jury last year, is set to return to court this week as prosecutors again try to convict her in the 2022 killing of her boyfriend, a veteran Boston police officer. But the lead investigator in the case, Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor, was fired last month over allegations that he had disparaged Read and shared confidential investigative details, and legal experts say that Proctor will likely loom over the proceedings when they get underway Tuesday. 'I suspect that Michael Proctor — and the state police investigation in general — will be the elephant in the courtroom throughout the trial,' said Daniel Medwed, a professor of law and criminal justice at Northeastern University in to know about Karen Read's murder retrial in the death of her police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe Family of Karen Read's boyfriend says she put them 'through hell,' but they're ready for second trial Messy investigation exposes problems with police work that public rarely sees, experts say Karen Read's defense in the first trial How to watch the Dateline episode 'The Night of the Nor'easter' 'At the time of his original testimony, he still had a job to rein him in,' said Stara Roemer, a former Dallas County prosecutor who is now a criminal defense lawyer in Texas. 'Now that he no longer has that job, who knows what could come out of his mouth.' 'This is a case that was already on the edge,' said criminal defense lawyer and NBC News legal analyst Danny Cevallos. 'You've now deleted the lead investigator.' Proctor led the investigation into the Jan. 29, 2022, death of John O'Keefe, who was found unresponsive in the yard of a then-Boston police sergeant in Canton, south of Boston. During the first trial, Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally alleged that Read — furious over her deteriorating relationship with O'Keefe — drunkenly backed her Lexus SUV into him and left him for dead outside the sergeant's home. Read was charged with second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter while driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a collision causing death. She denies the allegations, and at her 2024 trial, her defense team alleged that she was the victim of an elaborate conspiracy that involved other law enforcement officers. Her lawyers alleged that O'Keefe was fatally beaten during an afterparty at the home of Brian Albert, and that he and others who were at the gathering framed Read for the killing. (Albert was not charged with any crimes, and he testified that O'Keefe never came inside his home.) The defense accused Proctor of manipulating evidence and leading a biased investigation. They pointed to text messages he sent to friends, relatives and supervisors in which he used offensive and vulgar language to describe Read. In one message to his sister, Proctor said he hoped Read died by suicide. The defense also pointed to Proctor's undisclosed ties to Albert and his family, and to investigative details Proctor shared with his sister, who was close friends with Albert's sister-in-law. In testimony, Proctor acknowledged that his comments were unprofessional and 'dehumanized' Read. He admitted to discussing the case with his sister, but said he made her aware only of 'newsworthy stuff.' Proctor testified that his conduct did not compromise the integrity of the investigation. After a jury failed to reach a verdict and a judge declared a mistrial, the Massachusetts State Police suspended Proctor without pay and launched an internal affairs investigation into allegations raised at trial that the agency described as 'serious misconduct.' Proctor was dishonorably discharged in March after a state police trial board found that he had violated agency rules when he sent derogatory messages and shared sensitive and confidential details with non-law enforcement personnel. The board also found that Proctor drank alcohol while on duty and drove his cruiser afterward. Proctor has not publicly commented on his termination, but his family said they were 'truly disappointed' with the board's decision, which they said 'unfairly exploits and scapegoats one of their own, a trooper with a 12-year unblemished record.' It's unclear what role Proctor will play in the second trial. He's included on a possible witness list that Read's attorneys filed earlier this year, and he will likely be used to bolster the same defense the lawyers made last year, said Medwed, of Northeastern. 'The defense, as in the first trial, will likely emphasize the shoddiness of the investigation to try to create reasonable doubt, and Proctor's dismissal will help that effort,' he said. Hank Brennan, the special prosecutor appointed to retry the case, may not need the former trooper's testimony about the investigation, said Romer, the former prosecutor. Brennan can likely establish those facts through other investigators, she said. Brennan could argue that Proctor's termination could confuse or mislead the jury and should be excluded from trial, Romer said. In her view, the wiser approach would be to address the issues surrounding Proctor head-on. 'The smart move for someone like Brennan in this situation is to get it all out on direct because it is much more powerful in front of a jury in terms of questioning that person's credibility,' said Romer, referring to the prosecution's direct examination. 'If it comes out on cross-examination, it'll seem like the state was hiding something.' But Cevallos, the legal analyst, said that calling Proctor could be tricky for the prosecution. 'He's lost everything,' Cevallos said. 'Think he'll be willing to help?' If subpoenaed, Cevallos said, Proctor may come across as a reluctant witness — someone who doesn't refuse to testify but provides the kinds of answers that defense attorneys often hear when questioning law enforcement officers. 'With the government, they're very helpful,' he said. 'When I do it, they lapse into, 'yes, no, yes, no.' That's the way the game is played.' To Romer, the trajectory of Read's case is highly unusual. To have the lead investigator in a criminal case fired between trials just doesn't happen, she said. But, the most unusual thing is that the public knows anything at all about Proctor's 'unprofessional' comments, she said. 'Stuff like this happens all the time,' she said. 'If you've ever had a conversation with a police officer, they talk about their cases and reveal information that they shouldn't. It's just, normally people don't see it.' This article was originally published on
