Greg Monroe is a guy we really should be looking at right now...

[crimson_stallion]

Three games in to the NBA season, here are the rebounding averages of our four primary bigs:

Al Horford: 4.6 RPG, 29.7 MPG (5.6 Reb Per 36)
Amir Johnson: 4.3 RPG, 18.6 MPG (8.3 Reb Per 36)
Tyler Zeller: 4.3 RPG, 16 MPG (9.7 Reb Per 36)
Jonas Jerebko: 1.3 RPG, 15.7 MPG (3.0 Reb Per 36)

This has got to be the worst rebounding front-court I've ever seen, in my entire life, as a basketball fan.  It's so bad that I'm desperately praying for Kelly Olynyk to return soon so that we can get a boost in rebounding - no word of a lie.

After comments were made about Boston getting killed on the boards by Chicago, Avery commented that this is not unexpected, given that we have lost our two best rebounders (Sully and Turner) from last season. 

I like Horford, but he's definitely more of a jump shooter at this point in his career.  We need a big who can dominate the post and dominate the boards.

Greg Monroe has been demoted to a bench role in Milwaukee.  Today he played only 19 minutes.  He clearly isn't in their long term plans.  He's only 25 years old, he's a pretty much guaranteed 16/10 guy when he gets the minutes, and he's still got two years left on his $17M contract - an absolute bargain in today's salary cap landscape.

I know he's not perfect and he has his flaws (mobility, inability to stretch the floor, rim protection, etc) but all of those weaknesses of his are strengths of Horford, so the two complement each other extremely well.

A starting five of Thomas / Bradley / Crowder / Horford / Monroe should make us a contender overnight, and according to trade machine Amir+Young is enough to make the deal work - throw in a pick or two and you have a deal that probably makes sense for both teams. 

I really think Danny should make a run.

[alldaboston]

I wouldn't be opposed. Except, he's gonna opt out this summer most likely. Are we ready to dole out big money for him? His defense is not good at all. Or, do we just trade for him as a 1 year rental?

[csfansince60s]

I've been a Moose fan for a long time.

He runs the floor well, is a guaranteed double double guy and is durable as hell. And we likely could get him for cheap.

Not only would Moose pair well with Horford, but he would compliment Olynyk well too. Also, even though he has two years left on his deal, he can opt out after this year, which he most definitely would do with a rejuvenation of his career here under Brad, which would still maintain our cap flexibility for next summer.

[Future Celtics Owner]

Okafor is a longer and bigger Monroe...with a longer term contract and coming off a rookie year in a horrible situation to boot!

Okafor baby!

[mr. dee]

If he's cheap, then I'm on board. I think our own 2018 1st + Zeller, JJ should do it but I doubt Danny is interested.

[MJohnnyboy]

I wouldn't be opposed. Except, he's gonna opt out this summer most likely. Are we ready to dole out big money for him? His defense is not good at all. Or, do we just trade for him as a 1 year rental?

I like Moose and I guarantee the Celtics could get him for practically nothing since Milwaukee has no place for him. Ironically, I fear he might opt in which would take the Celtics out of contention for a top-notch free agent this summer, and I'm worried about his fit defensively.

I've been proposing a Monroe deal since last year and I'm still curious to see if he would fit here. If Danny gets him for spare parts (ie Zeller, Jerebko, and Young. I love the Johnson/Olynyk bench combo), I'd be okay with it as long as he and Brad are okay with it.

[SuddenFame]

Okafor is a longer and bigger Monroe...with a longer term contract and coming off a rookie year in a horrible situation to boot!

Okafor baby!

Except Philadelphia thinks they're entitled to a high lottery pick for Okafor, not gonna happen.

[crimson_stallion]

Okafor is a longer and bigger Monroe...with a longer term contract and coming off a rookie year in a horrible situation to boot!

Okafor baby!

No, he isn't.

Monroe can move, can rebound, can defend (not well, but at least somewhat), can pass, can draw fouls, barely ever gets injured, and isn't a head case.

The only thing that Okafor and Monroe have in common is that both are quality post scorers and both have flawed outside jumpers.  Other then that they are chalk and cheese.

[TheSundanceKid]

Doesn't fit our style of play at all, potentially ruins our cap space in summer. Also the rebounding thing is not such a big deal. The way we play means the guards get more involved in the rebounds while the big men box out. It isn't a reflection on the individual, it's a team effort

[TA9]

Doesn't fit our style of play at all, potentially ruins our cap space in summer. Also the rebounding thing is not such a big deal. The way we play means the guards get more involved in the rebounds while the big men box out. It isn't a reflection on the individual, it's a team effort

It's a huge deal. If we were capable of rebounding the ball better; I'm sure that we would win games more comfortably than we are seeing right now. Those second chance baskets are killing us, which we e.g. saw against Chicago.

But I agree, Monroe doesn't fit our playing style. We must hope that Olynyk manages to solve some of our problems in the rebounding department.

[Surferdad]

Doesn't fit our style of play at all, potentially ruins our cap space in summer. Also the rebounding thing is not such a big deal. The way we play means the guards get more involved in the rebounds while the big men box out. It isn't a reflection on the individual, it's a team effort

It's a huge deal. If we were capable of rebounding the ball better; I'm sure that we would win games more comfortably than we are seeing right now. Those second chance baskets are killing us, which we e.g. saw against Chicago.

But I agree, Monroe doesn't fit our playing style. We must hope that Olynyk manages to solve some of our problems in the rebounding department.

In the post-game press conference, Brad said that strong rebounding by our guards is "the way we have to play" as a result of our personnel.  So the answer is yes, we need better front-court rebounding.  However, Greg Monroe is not the guy, unless he can develop a 3-point shot.

[Moranis]

Doesn't fit our style of play at all, potentially ruins our cap space in summer. Also the rebounding thing is not such a big deal. The way we play means the guards get more involved in the rebounds while the big men box out. It isn't a reflection on the individual, it's a team effort

It's a huge deal. If we were capable of rebounding the ball better; I'm sure that we would win games more comfortably than we are seeing right now. Those second chance baskets are killing us, which we e.g. saw against Chicago.

But I agree, Monroe doesn't fit our playing style. We must hope that Olynyk manages to solve some of our problems in the rebounding department.

In the post-game press conference, Brad said that strong rebounding by our guards is "the way we have to play" as a result of our personnel.  So the answer is yes, we need better front-court rebounding.  However, Greg Monroe is not the guy, unless he can develop a 3-point shot.

big guys don't need a 3 point shot.  Somewhere on here I posted the top 15 qualified players for rebounding from last year.  Only like 3 had more than 1 3 point shot a game.  This notion that all big men must shoot is just nonsense that isn't borne in reality.

[Celtics4ever]

This has got to be the worst rebounding front-court I've ever seen, in my entire life, as a basketball fan.  It's so bad that I'm desperately praying for Kelly Olynyk to return soon so that we can get a boost in rebounding - no word of a lie.

I think we will improve as Horford learns the system.   Guys are not going to the glass when a shot is put up.   It is all about creating space.   Horford is still quite better than Sullinger is a bunch of other ways.  I too, miss KO.  It is an issue.  I think Smart will help too, because he brings a toughness to our squad.

Last night we had 42 and it was by committee.  Against the Nets we had 47.  Against the Bills we had 36.  This year we are averaging 41.7 RPG.  Last year this number was 44.9 RPG.   So we are down over 3 RPG.

We are shooting better with Marcus being out and Sully gone but rebounds are a problem.  We are playing faster, but you need possession of the ball to run. We need to draft a big for sure like Thomas Bryant or the Bam guy from UK.

[Surferdad]

Doesn't fit our style of play at all, potentially ruins our cap space in summer. Also the rebounding thing is not such a big deal. The way we play means the guards get more involved in the rebounds while the big men box out. It isn't a reflection on the individual, it's a team effort

It's a huge deal. If we were capable of rebounding the ball better; I'm sure that we would win games more comfortably than we are seeing right now. Those second chance baskets are killing us, which we e.g. saw against Chicago.

But I agree, Monroe doesn't fit our playing style. We must hope that Olynyk manages to solve some of our problems in the rebounding department.

In the post-game press conference, Brad said that strong rebounding by our guards is "the way we have to play" as a result of our personnel.  So the answer is yes, we need better front-court rebounding.  However, Greg Monroe is not the guy, unless he can develop a 3-point shot.

big guys don't need a 3 point shot.  Somewhere on here I posted the top 15 qualified players for rebounding from last year.  Only like 3 had more than 1 3 point shot a game.  This notion that all big men must shoot is just nonsense that isn't borne in reality.

It is the trend in the "pace-and-space" NBA, and also happens to be what Brad would like for his system.  We already have Olynyk and Horford as big men who can shoot the 3.  Porzingis obviously shoot the 3, but even Boogie is starting to take three's.  It started with the stretch-4, and now stretch-5 will become more common too.

[TA9]

Doesn't fit our style of play at all, potentially ruins our cap space in summer. Also the rebounding thing is not such a big deal. The way we play means the guards get more involved in the rebounds while the big men box out. It isn't a reflection on the individual, it's a team effort

It's a huge deal. If we were capable of rebounding the ball better; I'm sure that we would win games more comfortably than we are seeing right now. Those second chance baskets are killing us, which we e.g. saw against Chicago.

But I agree, Monroe doesn't fit our playing style. We must hope that Olynyk manages to solve some of our problems in the rebounding department.

In the post-game press conference, Brad said that strong rebounding by our guards is "the way we have to play" as a result of our personnel.  So the answer is yes, we need better front-court rebounding.  However, Greg Monroe is not the guy, unless he can develop a 3-point shot.

Yeah I heard Brad saying that. But I don't agree with the notion that the solution to our rebounding problem is our guards as I don't see it being sustainable against a team with a good rebounding backcourt. Imagine IT and Bradley having to outrebound Andre Drummond or Dwight Howard... I just don't see it happening and it will eventually lead to our downfall against certain teams.