Options left at Center?

[Evantime34]

I know he isn't exactly a center but what about Reggie Evans?

[Fan from VT]

Our roster is almost full after all the signings and deals the past five days, and with our limited resources, it has been a pretty good haul for Danny Ainge. Solid vets and rooks who provide us with scoring, rebounding, athleticism and most importantly, cap flexibility! But of course, there is still one glaring need we need to address - the center position! But with limited options in free agency especially with some of the prized centers already having signed, what's left for us?
Nene, Marc Gasol, Chandler, Foster, Aaron Gray, even Kwame is gone.

So which FA centers are left?
Mbenga , Dampier, Elson, Gadzuric, Ajinca... - ugh.
Fesenko, Thabeet(amnesty'd?) - nice to have but quite slow and inexperienced.
Przybilla, Landry, Dalembert are most notable, but we only have the vet's min to give and I doubt any of these would accept.

So what else can we do? Barring any miracle that lands us Dwight Howard, I say we just try to trade for some serviceable centers with expiring contracts. My top choices:

Jason Thompson 3M (RFA next year)
Turiaf - 4M
Okur - 10M
Kaman - 12M
I suppose we can trade a pick , Bradley and probably JO to get one of these guys. If DA really wants to win this year, he should really get a good center. Remember how good we were when our centers were clicking (esp. Shaq) last year? Some players also perform better in their natural position (Green, Bass, Wilcox). So banner#18 doesn't really hinge on Rondo's improvement or Green's breaking out, but on a reliable and dependable center!

My favorite affordable center is probably Rony Turiaf who plays with a lot of passion and energy and can get the Boston crowd fired up. Unfortunately he is under contract for one more year with the Knicks I believe.

JO for Turiaf? More defense for them, more health for us. JO goes to a contender. Everybody wins?

i say no thank you to ronny turiaf.  ive read that he's an awful rebounder and not a very good defender.  the knicks had to pay the wizards to take him off their hands when they were just trying to dump him from their roster to make cap room.

Ive always seen tiriaf regaeded as anexcellent defender, but i dont think hes available at all. Id take a flyer on fesenko or etan thomas

[StartOrien]

Where's Jason Collins?

[TheRev72]

If we stand pat, I think you'll see Garnett and JO playing about half the game and Bass and Wilcox playing the other half. I'm fine with that for now because Bass and Wilcox should be sufficient against other team's second unit front-lines (kind of like how Doc used to get away with playing Baby and Powe together for streches in 08).

And I think you'll see the "small" lineup that Doc used in 08 as well with Green taking Posey's spot at forward alongside Pierce with KG being the only "big" on the floor (shooters all over for Rondo).

My main concern is that you obviously can't count on JO's health. We need another big for his inevitable injury. And I don't like counting on a rookie (JJJ) or a D-Leaguer (Steisma). At this point, I'd even support a return of Kristc.

[snively]

I'll put my vote in for Gadzuric.  That guy always killed us.

[HUD4]

Jason Collins re-signed with ATL...sad that Boston pursued him for his talents in guarding Dwight Howard. Dampier would be a nice big body...but he's pretty washed up. If I had a choice, I'd say either Thomas, Gadzuric, or Ely. I wouldn't mind them taking shots on Ajinca or Thabeet either. Both are 7'2-7'3

[gotjoker?]

If Houston waives Hasheem Thabeet, what about taking a flier on him?

[Boris Badenov]

If Houston waives Hasheem Thabeet, what about taking a flier on him?

Call me crazy, but I have reservations about a player whose top "Google suggest" phrase is "Hasheem Thabeet bust."

[Change]

how sick would it be Ainge signs these two

bench

Dooling/Avery
Green/Moore
AK47/Marquis
Bass/JJ
Wilcox/Fesenko

[Lucky17]

I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that Ainge could swing Dalembert here via a sign and trade with Sacto (JO plus Bradley plus a draft pick).

[pearljammer10]

I know he isn't exactly a center but what about Reggie Evans?

Love Reggie Evans but hes way too small, height wise,  to be a center. Im sick of having undersized Celtics play the center position for us. Thats why Im excited about Wilcox in green.

[snively]

I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that Ainge could swing Dalembert here via a sign and trade with Sacto (JO plus Bradley plus a draft pick).

I'm not sure if Ainge wants to tie up a lot of long-term money in Sammy.  Just doesn't seem to be his style.

[HUD4]

Agree, we aren't looking for bloated contracts...our guys for the back-up center spot are either on this team already or will be signed for the vet minimum or less...

[HUD4]

Oh, and take Ely off the list, just signed with the Bobcats

[gotjoker?]

I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that Ainge could swing Dalembert here via a sign and trade with Sacto (JO plus Bradley plus a draft pick).

I would rather attempt to acquire DeMarcus Cousins with that protected future first round pick and whatever else needed to facilitate the trade.