CLIFF NOTES: The Celtics can bulk up their center depth with a minimum salary guy, use the MLE to sign a center for more than the minimum with an eye towards possibly moving him at the trade deadline, gamble on someone like Colton Iverson or a D-Leaguer as the starting center, or tank via smallball with maybe Brandon Bass as the starting center.
The real gaping hole in the Celtics roster is the lack of a center. Fab Melo seems unlikely to be ready for more than a backup role. It's uncertain how second-round pick Colton Iverson will do. Bass and Humphries could theoretically function as centers. Maybe Olynyk. Will Shavlik Randolph and DJ White end up in the mix?
It might make sense for the Celtics to pick up a center who they feel confident can play 15-20 minutes.
One option is to get a minimum salary guy. Jason Collins seems reasonable. He could be an unofficial coach, teaching some of the young bigs how to be effective on defense despite limited athleticism. It sounds like he has the work ethic to serve as a role model to young players. He knows his limits and is a guy who could start at the beginning of the season and accept ceding playing time to younger players as they develop. The whole gay sideshow thing could be a way to draw in additional fans during a possible tanking year when the team is miserable.
Would DeSagana Diop or Byron Mullens be options? Perhaps Joel Pryzbilla would like a no-pressure situation to prove he can still play.
For fans who love to bring back ex-Celtics, Greg Stiemsma is reportedly going to be waived before his contract becomes guaranteed. He might be available for the minimum.
What about Cole Aldrich?
The next option is to sign a veteran using the MLE. Since the Celtics have a shot at clearing enough cap space to sign or trade for a $10m-15m center in the summer of 2014, it probably makes sense to sign a guy to a one-year deal. Last summer, OJ Mayo took a one-year deal with a player option for a second year with the Mavericks, declined his option, and got paid this summer (three years, $24m from the Bucks). If they don't find the contract they are looking for, is this an option for a player like Marreese Speights or JJ Hickson? Maybe Samuel Dalembert would rather start for a bad team than take less money to come off the bench for a contender (but it was rumored that 10 teams reached out to him).
With either of these options, the Celtics can flip a useful-looking guy to contender looking for big-man depth. A likely return would be a little-used former late first- or second-round pick who has waning potential and a future second-round pick.
If the Celtics are trying to avoid the luxury tax, using the MLE to sign a big man isn't a problem if you sign him to a contract that can be moved by the trade deadline, since luxury tax is based on payroll at the end of the regular season.
The third option is to gamble with unproven talent. Colton Iverson, an undrafted rookie, a player who has been overseas after failing to catch on in the NBA, or a D-Leaguer are all options.
The fourth option is to tank by intentionally going with a smallball lineup with Bass, Humphries, and maybe Randolph and/or White as part of your nominal center rotation.
Topic: Will the Celtics make a minor transaction for center depth? (Read 2173 times)