How Boston Celtics can fix the Center position now that Draft is over

[JBcat]

I really hope we look into Noel with Philly now having Embiid.   Maybe if give a future pick or 2 that will be enough.  I think it would be nice too having a local kid on the team.

Then go out and sign Okofor as a veteran presence.

I'll also add why not take a chance on Greg Oden if it's a reasonable deal.

[Fafnir]

Asik took only a future 1st. Why didnt danny make the trade first.

It would of been an easier offseason to go through then

Asik fetched a first that is 4-19.

So if the C's finish another bad season and have the 6th pick that's what they'd have traded for Asik. Is that a price you'd be willing to pay for 1 year of Asik?

[Al91]

The FA market is pitiful for Centers...at least Centers I'd like to see on the Cs. Too many offensive minded Centers and not enough defensive minded ones which is what we need IMO. I guess Monroe but I'm worried about overpaying him. I'd like Gortat on a 2-3 year deal though around $8mil/year or a larger deal with more money upfront and less money over time.

[dreamgreen]

That said, I'm much higher on Sullinger than you are obviously. I think your concerns with his weight are a bit overblown.

Kanter is actually pretty good. As in, 16 and 10 per 36 good (which he has been consistently for the past 2 seasons). Not his fault he's stuck behind Favors, and sadly I don't think he can be had for the package I mentioned.

I'm very worried about his weight and health, I'd do that trade in a heart beat. But the rumor mill had Utah putting Favors in a package for the 1st pick, so I wonder if they prefer to move him?

[Tr1boy]

Asik took only a future 1st. Why didnt danny make the trade first.

It would of been an easier offseason to go through then

Asik fetched a first that is 4-19.

So if the C's finish another bad season and have the 6th pick that's what they'd have traded for Asik. Is that a price you'd be willing to pay for 1 year of Asik?

No. But the nets pick and future 2nd yes. The rockets cant be that naive. Pelicans wont be bad enough next season to get you a top 15 pick

[kozlodoev]

That said, I'm much higher on Sullinger than you are obviously. I think your concerns with his weight are a bit overblown.

Kanter is actually pretty good.

Nothing to do with Kanter. I just like Sullinger, and I prefer him over KO. So, I lean towards the Gortat + Sullinger pairing.

Or I would have zero problem on getting Kanter for KO, if that's an option...

I'd like to keep Olynyk, I think he has the better skillset, and in my mind projects for a longer and more reliable career going forward.

The Gortat + Sullinger pairing will have all the problems of the Love + Pekovic frontcourt in Minnessota. Except it will not come with a superior offensive punch. It's ok to have a competent C, I guess, but not my preferred solution going forward.

[Evantime34]

Honestly, I don't think that it makes sense to pay big money for a center when this team is so far away from contending. However, I think we need to make at least a moderate improvement this year in order to ensure Rondo stays.

[arctic 3.0]

Henson was rumored to be abailable.
Expiring contracts and a protected first?
If we're going young I'd prefer him or Saunders over Gortat, okafor.
If we get love get a vet.

[kozlodoev]

Also, for Gortat: he apparently wants to be back with the Wizards, but "for the right price". Which means a contract similar to Pekovic ($10-13 million per). I think I'll pass.

[Tr1boy]

Henson was rumored to be abailable.
Expiring contracts and a protected first?
If we're going young I'd prefer him or Saunders over Gortat, okafor.
If we get love get a vet.

Henson is not a center

[Clench123]

Gortat wants to play here.  Why not sign him.

[kozlodoev]

Gortat wants to play here.  Why not sign him.

Because he wants $13 million. He also wants to stay with the Wizards, really -- as long as they're willing to shell out this amount.

[LooseCannon]

Asik took only a future 1st. Why didnt danny make the trade first.

Maybe he offered and Houston liked the Pelicans' pick better.  Maybe Ainge wasn't willing to budge on top ten protection.

[arctic 3.0]

Henson was rumored to be abailable.
Expiring contracts and a protected first?
If we're going young I'd prefer him or Saunders over Gortat, okafor.
If we get love get a vet.

Henson is not a center

Henson is 6'11" averaged 11pts, 7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.
He is 24 and weighs 220. I bet he can still as 10 lbs.
Think he can play center.

[HomerSapien]

Assuming there are no fireworks (i.e.: Love trade) that get us closer to "win now" mode, My preference at center is signing Greg Oden, along with a Steisma/Jason Smith-type back up.

We'll probably be in the lottery again next year, and the 2015 draft is loaded with center prospects.  That is where we find our long-term solution at the position.  In the meantime, we need size at the 5, and Oden offers an interesting balance of lower cost, with some upside.  He's still only 25, and if you can keep him in the lineup he is capable of being a very effective post player.  I think I'd want enough depth at the position to be able to limit his minutes to 25 min per game even if he is supposedly totally healthy though.

He seems like he'd be a worthwhile experiment for a team in our current situation.