My ranking
1. Embiid - If we win the lotto or Embiid drops + his health is fine. Easy choice
2. Nurkic - Massive 280 pound true center with advanced offensive skills (post, pnr). Defensively has to improve but his big body + mobility alone solves several problems in the defensive end
3. Mozgov - Alot will depend on with what happens to Mcgee. He is slotted and paid to be the nuggets starting Center . Mozgov is a legit starting calibre center. Ready to breakout if given some time on a the court. Trade idea 17th pick or a package including Jeff Green should do the trick
4. Gorgui Dieng - Similar to Denvers situation alot will depend on with what happens to Pekovic and his health. Regardless of what happens maybe he won't available anyways (insurance if Pek gets injured again or struggles). Will take the 17th pick at least to obtain. Lacks offensive skills/post game.
4. Cole Aldrich - Came on strong at the end of the year filling in for Chandler. After all these years building experience finally looks like is "getting" it . A younger, cheaper and more skilled option to Asik . Knicks likely to pickup team option to keep him next season and the Celtics could find a creative way to obtain him. (trade 17th for 2 later picks and give the knicks an early 2nd round pick for him)
Centers the Celtics should avoid obtaining
5. Asik - A Very good defensive Center that can't slowdown skilled centers. Little to no offensive game + would only be a rental. If we can obtain him just by using the TE , plus we have no other options then i would be fine getting him. But again he would not be a long term solution and is a pilon out there on the offensive end
6. Gortat - He is going to want money and to play for a contender. If the Celtics want to give him 15 million a year , he will gladly come. And thats not going to happen
7. Emeka OKafor - Another guy who is going to want to get paid regardless of his health situation. The Celtics cannot risk the money on a guy that could be out half the year
I actually don't like the order of the list...
I never understood why people seem to think Embiid is a superstar. What has he honestly proven? Yes he has flashes in which he has skilled post moves, and is intelligent, but this guy has a stress fracture... That is extremely hazardous for a player of his size to continually remain healthy... I would rank him as our 3rd or 4th best option. I would LOVE him on the Celtics, but I'm horribly wary of his health conditions, and whether or not his viability on the court will remain consistent.
Nurkic/Mozgov are great bruising Centers, but they don't offer any rim protection... I love Mozgov, and I really was vying for Ainge to go after him during the Big 3 era, but that time has come and passed. Mozgov is 27, and hasn't shown any huge improvements or abilities to his game.
And how do you know Okafor is going to get paid? There's a difference between wanting, and getting paid big bucks. No one is going to offer him any more than the MLE especially with the cap restrictions. 5 million increase of the cap is great, but taking on an aging Center that is coming off a season ending injury will leave some potential candidates/scouts/GM's worried.
As for Asik, I think the bloggers here are on and off about him. He brings two great skill sets: defense, and rebounding. I think Asik is very underrated in his ability to anchor a defense. I do agree though, Asik is probably one of the worst Centers to have offensively... Perkins even seems to have a better feel for the game than Asik.
I would rank my list like this, and its divided based on the categories of, attainability, durability, and overall strengths/weaknesses.
1: Asik
2: Okafor
3: Embiid
4: Mozgov
5: Sanders
I like your list and reasons though triboy16f. No doubt, and I do think this will definitely make Danny Ainge think about the future rim protector that we have been seeking for years now.
Topic: Ranking the Centers the Celtics can obtain for next season (Read 9047 times)