The Celtics will control the Nos. 28 and 32 picks in the first and second rounds of the draft, respectively, and will need to find some cheap talent to help fill out their already costly roster if they hope to continue contending for titles when star forward Jayson Tatum returns from his torn Achilles tendon injury.

Cowens won his lone MVP award during the 1972-73 season, a year in which the Celtics finished with the best record in the league but lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the New York Knicks. Cowens averaged 20.5 points, 16.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game in 82 regular-season appearances while averaging 41.8 minutes per contest.