Boston Celtics Looking at all Front Court Options
Boston is making sure they have all the options they need in their front court
After doing a solid job of drafting or order to build a competent and promising back court, the Boston Celtics got a taste of what happens when the front court is neglected. The Celtics added David Lee and Amir Johnson to go along with previous starters Tyler Zeller and Jared Sullinger with Kelly Olynyk and Jonas Jerebko coming off the bench. With neither new addition panning out, and Zeller and Sullinger regressing, the Celtics never put together a competant front court, and their team suffered for it.
Olynyk brought some of their best three point shooting and Jerebko did a solid job filling in off the bench, but they struggled on both ends in their front court and it often killed them in games. The Celtics are a negative rebounding team, one of the worst blocking teams in the league and, other than Olynyk, have no trusted offensive options.
Brad Stevens was forced to put together one of the most chaotic and inconsistent rotations because of a front court that could never settle into something that he felt worked. Bottom line, the Celtics ended that season knowing that big changes needed to happen to their front court, and all signs are pointing to that happening this offseason.
The Celtics used three first round draft picks on forwards. Two are expected to stay overseas and the other can only play the 4 in small ball lineups. The Celtics addressed their front court in the draft, but that will not give them the improvement they need to be contenders in the east again next season. It does however, give them the long term options that they need to properly build their front court, especially with Jordan Mickey waiting to get his opportunity.
Now that free agency is just around the corner, the initially planned meetings suggest that the Celtics are going to spend the majority of their cap space on their front court, and they are not going to make sure they look at anyone that can help them.
The two best free agents this offseason are arguably Kevin Durant and Al Horford, and the Celtics are currently the only team with scheduled meetings with both of them. Throw in that Dwight Howard now has a meeting with the Celtics and they are making sure they look at any potential high end talent that their front court desperately needs.
The Celtics are not expected to pursue Howard as aggressively as the others, but at the right price there is no doubting that he could transform their front court and begin to get them the talent they need for their front court to catch up to their back court.
While the Celtics have meetings scheduled with arguably the three best free agent big men, there is no talk of them looking into adding guards. Mike Conley is going to be coveted and the likes of Bradley Beal or even Jamal Crawford could play well and be great on the Celtics. Even if these back court players improve the Celtics, if they are handing out max contracts the front court is clearly the priority.
All these meetings are a good start for the Celtics, but thats all it is, a start. Other than Durant, there may not be another one player that can transform the Celtics into a true title contender. That being said, after doing a great job of building their core of guards, they are attempting to balance things out in their front court.
They have dynamic and versatile options from the draft and they are looking at all free agents that have the kind of talent they are looking for. They understand the position that their front court currently puts their back court in, and it is about time that changed.
The Celtics needed their guards to make up for the front court on both ends of the court, and while they did a great job on both ends, they need scoring from their bigs before they can be an elite offense, and rim protection is the only thing missing on an otherwise phenomenal defensive team.
Ideally, the Celtics will find a way to land their top two forwards in free agency, and that will surely propel them to the best competition for the Cavaliers in the east.
Brad Stevens has done a great job of utilizing players and finding how they can be most effective in his system on both ends. Seeing the Celtics look at so many different bigs while going after high upside in the draft will allow Stevens and Ainge to find and use exactly what they need in their front court in order to to properly compliment their guards.
Next: Dwight Howard is an option for the Celtics
Unfortunately, it may take time before the Celtics know exactly what they need out of their front court in order to be the most complete and balanced team, but the way they appear to be handling their front court this offseason will give them as many options and possibilities as possible.