Positioning yourself to have a long NBA career when you enter the league as a second-round draft pick can be a daunting task. More often than not, a player in that spot does not have the same type of security as their counterparts selected in the top 30, who receive guaranteed contracts.
For one recent Boston Celtics draft pick, this is a reality he is facing. After a two-year stint in Boston, he has taken the overseas route in hopes of performing at a high enough level against elite European competition to receive a contract offer to return to the United States and resume his career in the NBA.
Former Celtics G Carsen Edwards Signs Deal With Overseas Powerhouse
After making a name for himself as an elite scorer during his time at Purdue University, the Celtics selected Carsen Edwards with the No. 33 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft after swinging a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers to acquire his rights.
Unfortunately for Edwards, he found himself stuck on the depth chart behind several veterans, which led to fewer opportunities to show his worth at the NBA level than the former college star would have preferred. In 68 appearances for Boston, Edwards averaged 3.6 points and 1.1 rebounds in just over nine minutes per game. It is tough to gain the type of confidence or rhythm needed to compete in the NBA if you aren't receiving regular minutes, and Edwards got caught up in that while with the Celtics.
With that being the case, Edwards took his talents overseas following a brief stint with the Detroit Pistons. On Saturday, it was reported that Edwards signed a new deal with the reigning Italian League champions, Virtus Bologna.
After two successful seasons with Bayern Munich, Edwards has another opportunity to show why he is a threat to put the ball in the basket at all times. If he can be as effective in Italy as he was in Germany, Edwards, the top scorer in the EuroLeague this past year, Celtics fans could see NBA franchises give him another look, as perimeter shooting is a need for every team, and Edwards can provide that in a big way.