Silas contract expired in the summer of 1976. While the NBA's reserve clause was no more, free agency in the NBA still required teams to send compensation, so players often had little recourse but to hold out. Silas threatened to hold out, so Red, with new owner Irv Levin holding the purse strings, traded him to the Nuggets part of a 3-way deal. Coming from the Pistons was Curtis Rowe. The Celtics had signed Sidney Wicks a couple of weeks prior, so the trade essentially reunited the former UCLA stars.He was a veteran when they traded him for Sidney Wicks and Cutis Rowe I believe. Bad trade. Red thought he was getting old. Anyway he was one of my favorites and one of the most underrated players in NBA history. RIP Paul. Ironically they got him for a steal when they traded Charlie Scott who they had draft rights to, to the Suns for Silas. Then they became teammates a few years later of course.
Listed at 6'7" and 225 but that kind of translates to 6'9", 240 by today's standards as he was defintiely a load underneath. Loved watching him play during the Cowens years that don't get enough attention in the middle of the Russell and Bird teams. They used to say about Russell that if you take a shot you better hit because there isn't goinna be another, but the same could be said for Cowens/Silas.Silas and Dave Cowens are listed at 6-7 and 6-9, respectively. Think they were more like 6-5 and 6-8. Amazing how effective they were as the Celts' big men.
Grew up in the 80s hearing my dad talk A LOT about Mr. Silas as he called him. I’d say boy Parrish and Walton are great rebounders and he’d say yeah they’re ok. But you should’ve seen Mr. Silas rebound. And then would shake his head with amazement lol.Godspeed, Tall Paul. I can't believe that he and Small Paul are on the other side. A true Celt, and one of the greatest rebounders of any era.
The legend that Wicks/Rowe will forever have in Celtics lore is one of the most improbable paths for the 1/2 duo on B2B UCLA titles (after they played alongside Alcindor for their first championship) under Wooden.Silas contract expired in the summer of 1976. While the NBA's reserve clause was no more, free agency in the NBA still required teams to send compensation, so players often had little recourse but to hold out. Silas threatened to hold out, so Red, with new owner Irv Levin holding the purse strings, traded him to the Nuggets part of a 3-way deal. Coming from the Pistons was Curtis Rowe. The Celtics had signed Sidney Wicks a couple of weeks prior, so the trade essentially reunited the former UCLA stars.
RIP to a key piece of those often overlooked 1970's championship teams.
Your Mom has good taste.Oakley before Oakley
Loved Silas. One of my late Mom’s favorites. Her favorite was Havlicek.
A story about my momYour Mom has good taste.
Didn't get to see a lot of games because didn't grow up in BOS but when I saw the Cs, he was one player you always had to watch because he worked so hard and was such a great rebounder even though he wasn't a giant. Always one of my favorite Cs. It suxs getting old. RIP.
Wicks & Rowe were literally the bridge from Alcindor to Bill Walton in UCLA's amazing 7-year NCAA title run.The legend that Wicks/Rowe will forever have in Celtics lore is one of the most improbable paths for the 1/2 duo on B2B UCLA titles (after they played alongside Alcindor for their first championship) under Wooden.
Silas was a man’s man who raised his kids right. RIP