Stop me if you’ve heard this before: the Celtics have a Big problem.
As in, the need for a starting Big, rather than the reliance on a rotation of developing, or past-peak centers.
Even though Tyrese Maxey was the best player on the floor for the second half of the Celtics’ first-round playoff series against the 76ers, it was largely the return of Joel Embiid who preemptively ended their season.
Embiid’s availability issue reared its ugly head in the next round. At this point in his career, he’s no unicorn like Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic. The Celtics had a version of one of these guys for two years in Kristaps Porzingis, but like Embiid, erratic availability and injuries come with the territory of these special body types.
President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens bid adieu to both Porzingis and Al Horford last summer and asked coach Joe Mazzulla to pivot to other options: Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, and, eventually, Nikola Vucevic.
Vucevic can’t be long for this Boston team. They flourished with Queta as their starting center during the regular season, but his inexperience and foul-heavy play caught up with him quickly in the postseason.
As speculation continues to swirl around whether Giannis Antentokounmpo will wear a different shade of green this fall, here are three other options the Celtics could consider for the starting center position:
Trade for Bam Adebayo
Adebayo is one of the more obvious fits for Boston, both in terms of his play style and potential chemistry with star Jayson Tatum. The two have been friends since their teenage years. He’d be an immediate major upgrade in the paint, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds a night for Miami last season, (including his 83-point showcase against the Wizards). What would it take? It depends on what Miami’s goal for the upcoming season may be. In terms of making the money work, Boston would likely need to part with two roster players with at least the caliber of Derrick White and Sam Hauser – if not more. Adebayo has a three-year, $166 million extension that kicks in next year. Remember, though: it’s tough to win a deal against Pat Riley – especially when you’re in his conference.
Sign Jusuf Nurkic
Nurkic’s season with the Utah Jazz was cut short by repeated facial fractures that eventually necessitated season-ending surgery, but before then, he was having his most productive season offensively in the last three years. At 31, the “Bosnian Beast” still provides plenty of presence in the paint and on the glass. Best of all, the Celtics wouldn’t have to give up a rotational player to get him. He’s coming off a contract with an AAV of $17.5 million.
Trade for Wendell Carter Jr.
Could two one-and-done Dukies team up on the Celtics next year? Carter Jr. offers a lot to like in a potential fit with Boston: he’s coming off a season with his best availability in Orlando, (78 games), he’s got over a 50% field goal shooting percentage, and he’s a decent three-point shooters. We know Mazzulla loves a three-and-D guy. Carter Jr. may not provide massive scoring volume, but he’s a solid defender, can stretch the floor, and he’s young – but experienced. Boston could make the money work with rotational pieces further down the bench, like Hauser and one of their recent draft picks, Hugo Gonzalez or Baylor Scheierman. One issue they could see with a trade of that sort, however, is loss at wing depth by trading both Hauser and his would-be heir apparent in Scheierman.
