The five worst free agent signings in Boston Celtics history

2. Mark Blount

Mark Blount was a second-round pick that worked for every chance he got. After college, Blount was bouncing in and out of European, American, and any other basketball league with an open roster spot, until he finally got his chance with the Boston Celtics, as a 25-year-old center in 2000.

In his freshman campaign, Blount had 76 blocks in just 64 games but was not much of a threat on the offensive side of the ball. As he became less of defensive prowess, and his poor hands led to turnover after turnover, Blount was let go, and soon picked up by the Denver Nuggets.

After playing half a season with the Nuggets, Blount was traded back to Boston. The five-point per game scorer, who shot less than 45 percent from the floor, without much success rebounding the ball, suddenly turned into one of the best players in the Celtics rotation.

The seven-footer started nearly every game for the Cs, including a number of dubious outings. From March to April, Blount was averaging 14.1 points per night and 10.8 rebounds and became one of the team’s best ball stealers. Not to mention, he led the team in offensive and defensive rating (for players who played more than 1000 minutes).

One game in particular, in mid-March, against a small-ball Magic team, Blount was able to eclipse his career highs in both points and rebounds. Blount finished the game with 28 and 21, allowing the Celtics to make a late playoff push, in a year where people assumed they were tanking. The performance put everyone in the Celtics front office on notice.

Not so coincidentally, all this was happening during a contract year for Blount. At the time, towering centers were the most precious archetype in the market, and the Celtics were one of the many teams that needed one. Based on other deals at the time, Blount was bound to receive anywhere between $40-$50 million.

That offseason, the Celtics signed Blount to a six-year, $41 million contract, which included a 15 percent trade kicker. The Celtics hoped that Blount would continue to develop his weaknesses and improve his game like he showed he could in the precedenting season.

It will never be known if it was for Gary Payton’s unwillingness to pass him the ball, or lack of minutes, but the last name puns about the once-beloved, hard-working Blount became more accurate than ever before. The big man looked clueless and dumbfounded every time he stepped on the court for Boston.

His offensive rating dropped by 7 and his defense rating rose by 6, not to mention his win shares going from 6.5 to 2.8. And his value above replacement was an impressive zero. There was nothing positive about what Blount was doing on the court.

Some of his teammates also professedly despised his attitude. Al Jefferson, frustrated about his lack of effort said, “‘What’s wrong with him? What’s going through his head?” Even head coach Doc Rivers began to grow a disdain for the big-man. There were games where Rivers would either put him on the bench of not let him play because of his attitude. And when he did start it was usually in a limited role.

The most problematic part was that with his 15 percent salary clause, Blount was essentially unmovable as a trade asset. Eventually, in late January 2006, the Celtics were able to ship the center away for an equally overpaid, but somewhat positive player, named Wally Szczerbiak, who would be later used to acquire Ray Allen. Ironically today, Blount is a very successful business mogul, owning several major franchises around the world.

Which brings us to the worst free-agent signing in Boston Celtics history. In 2011, the Celtics had essentially one more chance to compete for a title, if they were able to defeat LeBron James and the Miami Heat. The Celtics had just enough cap room to find a role player to complement the Big Three, the Celtics signed an aging center, who’s lack of effort and injuries formed a void in the Celtics rotation.