Do the Celtics have enough bigs?

[timpiker]

Enough quality bigs?  No.  Especially if they ever hope to play in the Finals and its against the Lakers.

[chambers]

We don't have enough bigs right now, and it will be our downfall if we somehow got past Miami and faced Memphis or LA.

I don't think we need to draft bigs though. Bigs can be acquired in free agency. Just draft the best players available and work with them.

[clover]

Quality Big Men chosen after pick #20 since the 2000 draft:

2011 Kenneth Faried - #22
2009 Taj Gibson - #26
2009 DeJuan Blair - #37
2008 Ryan Anderson - #21
2008 Serge Ibaka - #24
2008 Nikola Pekovic - #31
2008 DeAndre Jordan - #35
2008 Omer Asik - #36
2007 Tiago Splitter - #28
2007 Carl Landry - #31
2007 Glen Davis - #35
2007 Marc Gasol - #48
2006 Paul Millsap - #47
2005 David Lee - #30
2005 Ersan Ilyasova - #35
2005 Marcin Gortat - #57
2004 Anderson Varejao - #31
2003 Boris Diaw - #21
2003 Kendrick Perkins - #27
2003 Zaza Pachulia - #42
2003 Matt Bonner - #45
2002 Nenad Krstic - #24
2002 Carlos Boozer - #35
2002 Luis Scola - #56
2001 Samuel Dalembert - #26
2001 Mehmet Okur - #37

26 big men that had various levels of quality from near All-NBA to All-Star to near All-Star to very good starter to high quality bench role player. Over 12 years that's averages about two quality bigs taken after the 20th pick every year.

With a deep draft, there has to be some quality big men that are going to be available at the Celtics picks to get. So I see no problem with taking one pick to take BPA and taking the other pick to take Best Bigman Available.

Great list--thanks!

[SHAQATTACK]

How about saying we need rebounders .  IF they can rebound like crazy at 6 '9 or 6 ' 10 "  thats fine.

The Bulls just fell apart last night without NOAH to grab and fight for every rebound, basically dominate the glass..   HE and Deng change the game for the BUlls with their agressive play in the paint.  Noah seems to come up with the ball even if there is 3-4 different Jerseys around him .

Funny the guy with the nose for the ball on the Celtics is Rondo....our point guard.  ..... IF ROndo was 6' 10" he would be the best center in the NBA.

[birdwatcher]

No offense to the OP, but we knew we haven't had enough bigs (quality or healthy) since 2009.

[Jon]

We certainly need more bigs.  Still, I like Ainge and Doc's general philosophy: draft, sign, and play talent, not size.  That's how Danny landed guys like BBD, Powe, Gomes, Allen, and Bradley.  All were perceived to be too small for their respective positions and slipped further in the draft than they probably should've. 

Same with Doc.  Since the beginning of the Big Three Era, he hasn't hesitated to play small ball if it meant getting the best players on the floor. 

So while I'd like more size, I certainly don't think we should be looking to draft size over talent in the upcoming draft.  Similarly, I don't think we need to play Hollins or Williams just for the sake of having size.  Mismatches work both ways. 

[guava_wrench]

We have enough bigs to face Atl, Philly and the Heat. I'm fine with the Spurs too. OKC bigs aren't really about offense and it isn't like Perk gets offensive boards. Bynum scares me a bit.

[ManUp]

Yes, but there is drafting for immediate need and drafting for long term need. Both immediately and long term this team needs a big.

So I think they need to draft a best big available not so much because next year we need a big but because the youth of this team all are small and play small. Long term, this team needs a young big man to develop.

I understand what your saying and I agree, but I just really don't like the bigs being projected in our range. Fab Melo is the only big consistently projected in our range that I would like. If our options are between Ezeli and Nicholson I'd settle for a guy like Wroten. I would be thrilled if guys like Henson and Moultrie were on the board when we picked, but I think they'll move up with work outs.

[LooseCannon]

I understand what your saying and I agree, but I just really don't like the bigs being projected in our range.

Are there any bigs projected to go in the 35-45 range that you like enough to trade down for an early second and a future first-round pick?

[CelticHooligan3]

Yes, but there is drafting for immediate need and drafting for long term need. Both immediately and long term this team needs a big.

So I think they need to draft a best big available not so much because next year we need a big but because the youth of this team all are small and play small. Long term, this team needs a young big man to develop.

Gotta agree with Nick here. Especially going in to a possible rebuild type future next year. It would really be wise to have a young big, just marinating under KG's tutelage. Maybe coming off our bench. Maybe starting. And that's also not taking anything away from Stiemsa. Kid's shown some promise this year definatley. Heck even Hollins played some nice help D in stretches last night but i sure would love a project to learn from KG in his twilight years. Im really unsure of JJJ's position at this point from what ive seen. Kid could be a 3 or 4. He certainly needs to add some bulk either way. He seems to shy from contact.

[Celtics4ever]

I doubt Ainge would take Melo.  He tends to take undersize guys who can play over good sized guys who cannot play.   Melo is in the latter.

[nickagneta]

Yes, but there is drafting for immediate need and drafting for long term need. Both immediately and long term this team needs a big.

So I think they need to draft a best big available not so much because next year we need a big but because the youth of this team all are small and play small. Long term, this team needs a young big man to develop.

I understand what your saying and I agree, but I just really don't like the bigs being projected in our range. Fab Melo is the only big consistently projected in our range that I would like. If our options are between Ezeli and Nicholson I'd settle for a guy like Wroten. I would be thrilled if guys like Henson and Moultrie were on the board when we picked, but I think they'll move up with work outs.

I really like Myers Leonard and think we could package #21 and our second rounder to move up a few spots and nab him.

Leonard is BIG and LONG and plays back to the basket and is a pretty decent shot blocker, has excellent lower body strength for a 20 year old, can deny low post position and yet is quick enough to be a great help defender. He's also a pretty good FT shooter and a very efficient scorer.

He's probably a year or two away from being a starter but can be developed at a slow pace if KG and Stiemsma are back.

I like a draft of Leonard and Draymond Green.

[LarBrd33]

If the Lakers can "get it together", I don't think any team has a chance of beating them.  Kobe is still Kobe.  They also have two of the top 4 big men in the game and they are both legit 7 footers.  Ridiculous size.  If Bynum and Gasol are healthy and that team starts clicking... forget it.  We'd get destroyed by them.

I wouldn't worry about it, though.  I'm not sure how we'll beat Miami if we even get to the ECF.

[dark_lord]

I wouldn't worry about it, though.  I'm not sure how we'll the lakers will beat Miami okc/spurs if we they even get to the ECF WCF.

Fixed

[LarBrd33]

I wouldn't worry about it, though.  I'm not sure how we'll the lakers will beat Miami okc/spurs if we they even get to the ECF WCF.

Fixed

Same reason they'd beat us.  Overwhelming size.  Just depends on if whatever fool is coaching that team can figure out how to utilize that size.  Size matters in the playoffs.  Always has.  Having two of the top 4 big men in the game is a major advantage.  Kobe will get all the credit, but if the Lakers beat OKC/Spurs it will be because of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.