Why didn't the Celtics Add Another Center?

[gpap]

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?

[AB_Celtic]

Sully is going to contribute more than some people might think, and Wilcox and Melo are upgrades over Stiemsma and Hollins, in that order. Collins is just a big, strong dude.

I think we're pretty set barring injuries.

[gotjoker?]

Personally, I would feel a lot better if there exist a legitimate starting center for Boston as opposed to starting an aging power forward, again.  This roster, the depth at center, is made up of uncertainties and not enough definite.  Thinking Garnett will duplicate his +/- differential from this season is asking a lot.  Conversely, the team needs others to perform to their capabilities while he is on the bench.  People are really talking up Sullinger. Will need to temper their expectations, though.

[CelticsFan9]

I think we're okay for now, but later in the season, I think we need a wing or a center.  Our guards are set.  Kenyon Martin is at the top of my list right now.  A proven vet who can defend and rebound.  After him would be Pietrus.

[kp4000]

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?

If the Celtics had depth at the center position they'll still be a poor rebounding team. The Celtics one of many defensive schemes is to at times ignore rebounding and get back on transition defense. But I share your concerns. I don't understand why the Celtics won't add another veteran big man?

It baffles me at times at how Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers ignores the glaring flaw, rebounding, that has plagued the Celtics the past two season. It seems they're more focused on matching Miami by going small-ball than trying to fix holes in the Celtics roster. Ainge and Rivers of all people should know rebounding wins games and that is why the Celtics were successful in 2008, 2009, 2010.

[rmitchell222003]

I think they plan on playing alot of small ball.

[gpap]

Sully is going to contribute more than some people might think, and Wilcox and Melo are upgrades over Stiemsma and Hollins, in that order. Collins is just a big, strong dude.

I think we're pretty set barring injuries.

Well, isn't that part of the problem?..."barring injuries."

It seems every year we go through injury issues with the Celtics.

[billysan]

I guess it boils down to what was available and what we had to spend. We chose to get more athletic and deeper at the guard slot with our cap room. That was Jason Terry and Courtney Lee. We chose to get bigger on the frontline through the draft. I think we got two excellent prospects in Sullinger and Melo. Sullinger could well contribute this year. It will take Melo a couple years to be ready but if he is Perk in 3 years, he is a steal.

I dont have a problem with Wilcox and Jason Collins being the primary backups to KG. They both will be valuable, Collns against the bigger back to the basket post guys and Wilcox with the more athletic big men that like to run.

I think the team had a choice to get younger and more athletic or bigger. We did both really, and I dont think Danny was willing to risk KMart's knees, Birdman's legal issues or Darko's motivational absence. Melo has more upside and basketball IQ than Blatche IMO, not mention cheaper.

I just dont see where there was another affordable center available who met our needs? There is a good chance someone like Varejao or Biedrins gets bought out later this season. That Low Level exception money will come in handy for signing one of them this spring.

[arambone]

first off i think we're pretty spoiled. This was an absolutely incredible off-season and the celtics are more stacked 1-15 than probably any team in the league.

The celtics probably have 8 starter level players, with great depth after that.

5 centers isn't enough? In an offseason where any free agent center with a pulse got signed to mega deals, i'd say the celtics did great.

Draftexpress had sullingers primary nba position listed as center, and they still had him ranked 6th best in the draft.

I was rewatching the combine last week and they showed chad fords top 10 prospects at that point. Sullinger was ranked 10th.

Sullinger is already better than perk as a center, and a better rebounder too. Way better hands. Comparable man defense at this late point in perks career. Way better passer, post moves, jump shot, ball handling.
280 pounds with a 7'1'' reach and as strong a base as anybody in the league.

Baby shaq with 80 percent free throws.

If sully had gone 15th we'd be talking about how much better the celtics rebounding would have been if sully had just fallen 6 more spots.

Drafting 2 centers and spending cap space elsewhere was exactly the way to go, especially in a market where centers are so highly paid.

Danny could not have done better this offseason.

[arambone]

dp

[Yoki_IsTheName]

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.

[arambone]

..

[byennie]

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.

In a perfect world maybe one more of those guys is a "true" center, but adding a 7th doesn't make sense to me considering what is out there. Garnett can defend the 5, Wilcox creates some mismatches, and Sullinger/Bass/Collins can all defend the post depending on matchups. Melo could be useful by the end of the year for stretches.

Perfect, no, but half of our roster is committed to the 4/5 spots and I think that's enough.

[GuyMontag]

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.

Exactly.

The Celtics have plenty of big man depth, barring injuries.  Granted, the Celtics have had terrible luck with injuries to big men the past few years, so who knows what that depth will be like in March or April.  But going into the season, on paper, they didn't need to add any more big bodies -- especially considering the fact that Green will probably play 10-15 minutes a night at the 4.

[nostar]

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