BOSTON – The Boston Celtics selected guard J.R. Giddens and center Semih Erden in the 2008 NBA Draft on June 26, 2008. The Celtics also acquired forward Bill Walker from the Washington Wizards in exchange for cash considerations.

Giddens, a 6’5, 215 pound guard from the University of New Mexico was selected with the 30th overall pick. He is the first player from the University of New Mexico to have been drafted by the Celtics. The former Lobo shared Mountain West Conference Co-Player of the Year honors as a senior when he averaged 16.3 points and a league leading 8.8 rebounds in 33 games played. Giddens earned First Team All-Conference honors as a senior and earned Honorable Mention All-MWC honors as a junior. Giddens transferred to New Mexico after his sophomore season at the University of Kansas. The 23 year old was named Mountain West Conference Player of the Week a record five times during his senior season.

Erden, a 6’11” 240 pound center from Turkey was selected with the 60th overall pick. He has played in his native Turkey for the majority of his professional career and averaged 7.1 points and 4.7 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game for Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul last season in Turkish League play. Erden also averaged 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game in the Euroleague for Fenerbahce. The 21 year old earned Turkish League All-Star Game honors in both the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Erden made his professional debut with Darussafaka in the 2003-04 season.

Walker, a 6’6, 220 pound forward from Kansas State University was taken with the 47th pick by the Washington Wizards and was acquired by the Celtics for cash considerations. Walker earned Third Team All-Big 12 honors from The Associated Press and the league coaches as a redshirt freshman this past season. The former Wildcat ranked second on the team in scoring with 16.1 points per game which also was good for fifth in the Big 12. Walker scored 20 or more points nine times and topped the 30-point mark twice. Walker posted career averages of 15.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in 37 games over two seasons for the Wildcats.

- CELTICS.com -