Boston Celtics Acquire Colton Iverson in 2013 Draft
On June 27th, 2013, the Indiana Pacers traded the draft rights of Colton Iverson to the Boston Celtics for cash considerations.
The summer of 2013 was a year of transformation for the Boston Celtics. Head coach Doc Rivers departed for the Los Angeles Clippers. Two days later, the Celtics would continue to shake up its core. During the draft, the Celtics agreed to trade veteran stars Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets.
In the draft, Boston got bigger. In the first round, the Celtics drafted 6-11 perimeter threat Kelly Olynyk. In the second round, Boston bought the 53rd pick in the draft from the Indiana Pacers, and selected Colorado State center Colton Iverson.
Standing seven-foot tall, Iverson played one year at Colorado State averaging 14.2 PPG and 9.8 RPG while shooting 59.6% from the field. Prior to Colorado State, Iverson spent three years at the University of Minnesota before transferring while in search of a featured role. The bet paid off as the big man earned first team All-Mountain West during the 2012-13 college season.
After being drafted, Iverson joined the Celtics' 2013 Summer League entry in Orlando. The seven-footer appeared in five contests and compiled 5.0 PPG and 5.4 RPG in 16.7 MPG.
Though Iverson had hopes of making the team, he never joined Boston for training camp. Iverson signed a deal with Besiktas of the Turkish Basketball League.
Iverson rejoined the Celtics for 2014 Summer League in Orlando. He had hopes of making the team's regular season roster heading into the 2014-15 season. The big man appeared in five summer league games, amassing 6.4 PPG on 65% from the field, 2.4 RPG and 0.6 BPG in 15.8 MPG. After Summer League, Iverson signed a one-year deal with Spanish basketball team Baskonia.
Going into the summer of 2015, Iverson had plans to rejoin the Celtics again for Summer League. However, he soon realized a limited chance of making the roster and signed a deal overseas with Pinar Karsiyaka of the Turkish Basketball League.
In the summer of 2016, the Celtics renounced their rights to Iverson, allowing the big man to pursue other opportunities in the NBA. 24 years old when he was drafted, Iverson was no longer a spring chicken at the age of 27. Opportunities to make an NBA team was a fleeting thought.
Iverson never played in the NBA after his rights were renounced. He played professionally in Israel, Russia and New Zealand among other places.
Colton Iverson on his skill (via ESPN Boston):
"I think my best basketball is playing five-on-five; so if I can get in, get rebounds, get stops, set screens, get in the pick-and-roll -- that's what a lot of the NBA is nowadays, pick-and-roll, and that's my strength. Just do the little things and show the team that I'm ready to play right away."
On his plans to stay with Boston rather than go overseas:
"The Boston Celtics drafted me and I have every intention of playing with them next year."
On his decision to transfer and the impact it had on his career:
"I wouldn't be [drafted] right now if I didn't make that decision to transfer. I improved a lot in the season off, did everything I needed to work on in my game, and you could see my growth my senior year. It definitely paid off, I got drafted and I'm looking forward to a long NBA career." "I knew it was a risk -- high-risk, high-reward situation. Most people were definitely saying, 'You're crazy. What are you doing?' Now that I'm here, everyone's saying they didn't say it."
On not getting to learn from veteran Kevin Garnett who was traded to the Brooklyn Nets on the same day Iverson was drafted:
"Now that I'm here, I don't look up to anyone really," said Iverson, showing a bit of that confidence and toughness. "It's like, 'I'm going against you; let's go.' It would have been great to have him and learn from him, but moves happen."
On not being able to choose his jersey number 45:
"I guess if you can't get your number, you've got to go with something random. There really is nothing left. Thirty-seven seemed like a pretty unique number. I kind of liked it."
Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge on Iverson (via ESPN Boston):
"Colton is a player that we were excited by in the draft and had him ranked much higher than he ended up going. We were really fortunate to acquire a second-round pick to get Colton. "Colton is a kid that we've watched since his freshman year of college at the University of Minnesota. We loved his intensity from Day 1 and identified him as someone that we needed to keep a real close eye on."
On Iverson's work ethic:
"When he transferred to Colorado State, you could see how his work ethic and intensity continued, his confidence grew with opportunities. [Iverson was] one of the leading rebounders in the country. You know, for a guy to rebound at the level that he rebounded, it takes a lot of hard work and a lot of effort. He's put a lot of work into his body and he's gotten much stronger. And [he] just has a great intensity about him."
Iverson's agent Adam Pensack on Boston's interest in the center (The Coloradoan via ESPN Boston):
"During the season, maybe even before I even talked to Colton or his family, I spoke with the people in Boston, and they said they liked Colton back then. Celtics director of player personnel] Austin Ainge said all along that he really believes Colton is an NBA player. He has been probably Colton's No. 1 fan throughout the entire season and throughout the entire draft process."
Image via Getty Images/Fernando Medina
