RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 1 sourcesToday in Boston Celtics history, Bruce Bowen signed a free agent contract with the team in 1997. Originally from Merced, California, this marked Bowen's first significant opportunity in the NBA, following his previous experience of transforming two 10-day contracts with the Miami Heat into a rest-of-season agreement the prior year, during which he played in only one game. Bowen had gone undrafted in the 1993 NBA Draft after completing his collegiate career at Cal State Fullerton.
After stints overseas and in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA – a predecessor to the G League), Bowen latched on to the Heat and then Celtics, for whom he played two seasons.
He averaged 4.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while showing hints of becoming the fearsome defender he would later be known for.
Transactions
On the same day, former Celtics center Andrew Declercq signed a contract with Boston, for whom he would play 95 games over two seasons. The Clearwater, Florida native put up 5.4 points, 4.8 boards, and a steal per game before he was dealt with draft assets to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Vitaly Potapenko in 1999.
It was also on this date that ex-Boston big man Semih Erden was born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1986. Selected with the 60th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Erden would play just 37 games for the Celtics before he was traded with Luke Harangody to the Cleveland Cavaliers for draft assets.
Willie Williams shares the birthday with him, coming into this world in 1946. An alum of Florida State University, Williams was drafted by the Celtics with the 38th overall pick of the 1970 NBA Draft. He played a mere 16 games for the team before being waived by the team that next January. Williams logged 0.9 points and 0.6 rebounds per game while with Boston.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Today in Boston Celtics history: Bowen, Declercq sign; Erden, Williams born
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.