On this day in Boston Celtics history, the team waived Croatian big man Dino Radja to make way for new head coach and team president Rick Pitino’s vision for the team in 1997 after Pitino assumed the roles of both team president and head coach.
Radja had been with the Celtics for four seasons after being drafted 40th overall by Boston in the 1989 NBA draft. He did not immediately join the team, however. His Yugoslavian club, Jugoplastika, fought in court to keep his rights until the end of his contract with them, which was followed by a stint with an Italian team.
He finally joined the Celtics in July 1993, but the injuries sustained towards the end of his first deal with Boston and the incoming new regime spelled the end of his time with the team. Over those four seasons with the Celtics, he averaged 16.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
It is also the anniversary of former Celtics center Patrick O’Bryant signing with Boston in 2008.
The reserve big man played one season with the team, appearing in 26 games over which he logged 1.5 points and 1.3 boards per contest.
It is also the birthday of ex-Boston big man Chris Mihm, who came into this world in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1979.
Mihm was traded to the team in 2003 from the Cleveland Cavaliers with Ricky Davis, Michael Stewart, and draft assets in exchange for Tony Battie, Kedrick Brown, and Eric Williams.
He would play one season with the team before being traded again with Chucky Atkins and Jumaine Jones to the Los Angeles Lakers for Rick Fox, Gary Payton, and draft assets.
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Story originally appeared on Celtics Wire