Not only did the Boston Celtics come out of the trade deadline without making any additions, they also found out that they would be losing their most dynamic front court player, Kelly Olynyk, for at least two weeks. The Celtics have not been disastrous but losing two out of three games including one against the bottom dwelling Minnesota Timberwolves is cause for concern. They have a great opportunity with 7 of their next 8 at home but they are going to have to find a way to get more out of their front court.
The Celtics also bought out David Lee who lost his spot in the rotation, giving them some roster flexibility. While this would be far from what fans were hoping for at the trade deadline, NESN has revealed that the Celtics are reportedly one of three teams interested in veteran forward Reggie Evans.
While Evans would be one of the more experienced players on the Celtics, acquiring him would not do much more than add depth, but it would be in an area of need. There is almost no chance Evans would have any shot at the starting lineup and even Brad Stevens may not be able to get him to contribute enough to solidify their front court but he can offer something that the Celtics are lacking.
Evans has career averages of 4.1 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game. Clearly, Evans would not be added for his offensive contributions. Evans is a non factor from three and cannot finish above 50% form the field. Any player currently in the Celtics’ front court is a much better offensive option than Evans, making it clear that adding him would be all about finding a way to defend the paint.
One of the most surprising aspects of the Celtics’ season has been their ability to defend despite not having a great interior defender and their ability to rebound despite lacking great size in the front court. Seeing that the Celtics are tied for the 7th most rebounds per game in the league at 44.9 would make it appear that the Celtics may not need help on the boards. Unfortunately, all of the Celtics’ stats are impacted by their pace. The Celtics collect a lot of rebounds but still have an overall rebounding differential of -1.1. The Celtics collect a high volume of rebounds because they play in games that feature a lot more shots than usual. Unfortunately, that applies to the team they are against as they are tied for giving up the 4th most rebounds per game to their opponent.
The Celtics have found a way to be successful despite lacking a true interior force in their front court but that has not prevented them from allowing their opponents to run wild in the paint at times. That is where Evans would come in. Evans could immediately become one of the Celtics’ most intimidating defenders in the paint and could also be their top rebounder
Evans has averaged under 20 minutes per game for his career but per 36 minutes, he is a true force rebounding the ball. Per 36 minutes Evans has never been under 10 and has a career average of 13.3. It may be difficult to see how Evans will fit into the Celtics’ rotation but there is no denying that he can bring something to the table that the Celtics do not get from their front court.
Evans’ impressive rebounding goes beyond 13.3 rebounds per 36 minutes. Twice Evans has had the best defensive rebounding percentage in the NBA, including as recently as the 2012-2013 season. In that same season he also had the best offensive rebounding percentage in the NBA. Evans may be limited, but there can be no denying his ability to fight and collect rebounds.
Looking at Reggie Evans is certainly not a move to replace anything that Olynyk brings. Evans is almost the polar opposite of Olynyk on the offensive end but it is not as if the Celtics need to prepare to be without him for the rest of the season. The Celtics will eventually get Olynyk back and when that happens the Celtics will still have that gap in their interior.
If Stevens can find a way to integrate Evans into the rotation without having him stunt them on the offensive end then he can certainly contribute on the defensive end. Evans would never crack the starting lineup and his minutes would likely depend greatly on the matchup.
Next: Boston Celtics Facing Vital Home Stretch
The Celtics have an extra roster spot and someone like Evans gives Stevens something that he cannot find elsewhere on his roster. Evans may never end up with the Celtics and even if he did his role could be insignificant. That being said, Stevens has already built a reputation of getting more out of his players than their talent would suggest and Evans could be an intriguing low risk addition.