Here's a list of guys who will be available in free agency or who seem likely to be available via trade this summer, depending on how the playoffs unfold:
- Pau Gasol
- Greg Monroe
- Jahlil Okafor
- Jonas Valanciunas
- Nikola Vucevic
... and then of course there's Cousins, who might be available (I'm still skeptical). Brook Lopez is probably available, too, though I don't think he'd really work here.
It's kind of a long list, considering the quality of players listed. I almost want to say it looks like a market inefficiency -- and you know Danny Ainge is super keen on finding those.
Maybe the Celts offense will finally have an anchor down low after this summer. I know that centers like the above are out-of-style these days. Many on these forums are openly hostile to the notion of having a center who doesn't conform to the Tyson Chandler archetype.
I trust Stevens to incorporate any of the above to this roster in a way that makes the offense more balanced without totally undermining the defense.
The good news is the Celts already have a guy in Amir Johnson who could help cover up many of the defensive deficiencies of this type of player. Jordan Mickey might be able to do that to some extent as well.
Adding an interior dimension to this team would go a long way to making them a lot tougher to defend. That's not to say it would be easy or seamless. But it could be worth it.
Do you see it happening? Do any of the above names excite you? Disgust you? Do you think the post-up is dead and there is no way to win playoff games with a scoring center in today's NBA?
