The Celtics' Brad Stevens made only his second first-round pick as president of basketball operations when he selected Hugo Gonzalez of Spain Wednesday night.
The Celtics' Brad Stevens made only his second first-round pick as president of basketball operations when he selected Hugo Gonzalez of Spain Wednesday night.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
The Celtics on Wednesday selected Spanish wing Hugo Gonzalez with the 28th overall pick of the NBA draft.
Gonzalez, 19, spent the last three seasons with Real Madrid. The 6-foot-6-inch Madrid native joined the club’s youth team when he was 10. He was a role player for Real Madrid in Liga ACB play, the top league in Spain, averaging 5.2 points and 2.5 rebounds.
Given Gonzalez’s age and lack of experience, the Celtics may keep him overseas for at least a season while retaining his draft rights. The Celtics also own the second pick of Thursday night’s second round, which they previously acquired from the Wizards, the 32nd overall choice.
Gonzalez is just the second first-round pick in Brad Stevens’s tenure as president of basketball operations. Last season he tabbed Baylor Scheierman 30th overall.
The pick provides a brief slice of clarity amid a week of roster overhaul for the Celtics necessitated by their push to get below the salary cap’s second apron. On Monday night, the team traded point guard Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers in exchange for guard Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks.
Then on Tuesday the team completed a three-team deal with the Hawks and Nets in which center Kristaps Porzingis was sent to Atlanta and Boston acquired veteran forward Georges Niang.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.