Why didn't the Celtics Add Another Center?

[j804]

While I like the Collins signing, I think Darko Milicic is the best move we shouldve done. I understand his issues, but for a backup center (maybe 3rd string) he's not so bad.

But I think we're pretty set at the C spot. Silly, while undersized, will play some C minutes and he'll contribute in a good way.

Silly?

[colincb]

Because they had plenty of them already?

[T-LoDaniels]

Am I missing something? Right now, our bigs consist of KG, Wilcox, Sullinger, Fab Melo and Jason Collins. Call me crazy, but that just isn't very good depth at the center position.

Not to mention the likes of Darko, Blatche, Birdman and Kenyon Martin are still available and the Celtics still have their bi-annual exception.

I am certainly worried as a result of our lack of bigs that we are going to get crushed on the boards.

Again, am I missing something?

Yeah you are. It's 2012. Those players have all fallen off a cliff the last few years. I'm not saying that Collins is any better, but considering the baggage that the others bring, I think Collins was the best option.

[fitzhickey]

Am I missing something? Right now, our bigs consist of KG, Wilcox, Sullinger, Fab Melo and Jason Collins. Call me crazy, but that just isn't very good depth at the center position.

Not to mention the likes of Darko, Blatche, Birdman and Kenyon Martin are still available and the Celtics still have their bi-annual exception.

I am certainly worried as a result of our lack of bigs that we are going to get crushed on the boards.

Again, am I missing something?

Yeah you are. It's 2012. Those players have all fallen off a cliff the last few years. I'm not saying that Collins is any better, but considering the baggage that the others bring, I think Collins was the best option.

i agree with you entirely TP

[Who]

I am hoping that something gets done yet.

I'd be disappointed if Danny passed on Chris Andersen. Blatche and Kenyon, although neither are ideal, are intriguing options too if C.Andersen falls through (I read he is likely heading to Miami).

[fitzhickey]

I am hoping that something gets done yet.

I'd be disappointed if Danny passed on Chris Andersen. Blatche and Kenyon, although neither are ideal, are intriguing options too if C.Andersen falls through (I read he is likely heading to Miami).

Andersen has quite a bit of baggage with the whole child ****ography thingy

[kozlodoev]

Am I missing something? Right now, our bigs consist of KG, Wilcox, Sullinger, Fab Melo and Jason Collins. Call me crazy, but that just isn't very good depth at the center position.

Well, you _are_ missing something.

For one, you're either talking about "centers" or about "bigs".

If talking about _centers only_, having 5 people that can play the position (the ones you listed) is more than plenty.

If talking about _bigs_, then you need to add Bass to the equation, as well as acknowledge that Green and even Pierce can play the position part-time. Also plenty.

Both of these are true even if Melo gets most of his reps in the D-League.

That's why we haven't, and we won't, sign another center this season, unless an injury happens, or a can't-pass guy somehow becomes available (and no, Chris Andersen is not it).

[mgent]

Garnett, Wilcox, Sullinger, Bass, Melo, Collins... that's 6 players that can play center. There are only so many roster spots if we want depth anywhere else.

Bass is by no stretch a center, Melo and Collins would never make the rotation on a contender, and the other 3 are truly PFs that can get by at C.

So while we obviously have enough guys to play, that doesn't mean we couldn't easily upgrade with more quality depth.  If I had to guess I'd say Danny already offered minimums to Birdman, Darko, probably Blatche.

FYI, half of our roster isn't committed to bigs.  Plenty of teams go into the season with 7, and it wouldn't be hard to cut Collins if we had to.  You talk about wanting depth somewhere else, but Green and Terry don't even have room for the minutes they deserve.

You say adding another C "doesn't make sense to me considering what is out there."  What are these better available options at SF?

[Chris]

The Celtics currently go 3 deep at the center position with proven NBA talent.  And they have two other guys (Sullinger and Melo) who could potentially fill minutes as well, depending on their development. 

In the NBA these days, thats about as much depth as you can hope for at that position.

[kozlodoev]

If I had to guess I'd say Danny already offered minimums to Birdman, Darko, probably Blatche.

I don't think Danny has put any effort into upgrading the third-string center position after he signed Collins.

[OsirusCeltics]

Well in 2008 when they won the chip, the only legitimate center they had was Perkins. And PJ Brown came midseason, and barely played alot of minutes

[pearljammer10]

I think you are missing our depth chart.

Rondo/Terry/Dooling
Lee/Terry/(Bradley when healthy)
Pierce/Green
Bass/Green/Sully
KG/Wilcox/Collins/Melo

How many more bigs do you want?

[T-LoDaniels]

Garnett, Wilcox, Sullinger, Bass, Melo, Collins... that's 6 players that can play center. There are only so many roster spots if we want depth anywhere else.

Bass is by no stretch a center, Melo and Collins would never make the rotation on a contender, and the other 3 are truly PFs that can get by at C.

So while we obviously have enough guys to play, that doesn't mean we couldn't easily upgrade with more quality depth.  If I had to guess I'd say Danny already offered minimums to Birdman, Darko, probably Blatche.

FYI, half of our roster isn't committed to bigs.  Plenty of teams go into the season with 7, and it wouldn't be hard to cut Collins if we had to.  You talk about wanting depth somewhere else, but Green and Terry don't even have room for the minutes they deserve.

You say adding another C "doesn't make sense to me considering what is out there."  What are these better available options at SF?

You kinda contradicted yourself. Blatche is also a PF not a C

[LooseCannon]

I have no problem with the possibility that Ainge has decided (using information not available to us) that players such as Blatche and Milicic are bad fits for the Celtics locker room and would be unwilling to sign them for even the minimum unless the team is decimated by injury and in desperate need for warm bodies.

[European NBA fan]

With Green being able to play PF and Sully being "NBA-ready" as people are saying...I see Bass in a mid-season trade. I love Bass but he's a mediocre PF. Proficient but not good. I also think we might move AB by mid-season depending on how well Lee plays and how much Terry is playing with Rondo.

If we move Bass and AB together we can take on a 10M contract mid-season. That would cover David West, Paul Millsap or Monta Ellis. If we string stack a couple small contracts added on it's Josh Smith's contract. All are expiring except Ellis.

I'm not saying Bass+AB = any of those guys, but it's close and with a pick it would be possible. For us it frees up cap space for next season (which we'll need) and it gives us a chance to shore up a position we're weak at (backup center). For the other team it gives them a veteran PF and a young lock down shooting guard. I'm struggling to find a good center for that $ but that is because every center worth a [dang] is making too much money. Maybe Dalembert for Bass. Spit balling

Remember that we are under a hard cap for the season, which means we can't make any trades that adds to the payroll. AB plus Bass is only 7.6M dollars. Wilcox and Dooling can't be traded without their consent, so there is very little room to add contracts to match.

We won't have cap space next season, almost no matter how we trade. It will be a choice between the MLE for non-tax payers or the mini-MLE for tax payers.