Boston Celtics Free Agent Target: Festus Ezeli

Festus Ezeli could be the anchor down low the Celtics are searching for

The Boston Celtics frontcourt problems were glaring during their first round series loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The Celtics were able to get by in the regular season, however, the slower tempo in the playoffs didn’t treat the mediocre frontcourt nicely and made it obvious that an upgrade down low is needed.

Al Horford and Hassan Whiteside are two guys Boston will be looking at this off-season to try to fix the hole down low. Another option that many people are forgetting is the 26-year-old center Festus Ezeli of the Golden State Warriors.

Ezeli is set to be a restricted free agent this summer so the Warriors will have a chance to match any offer. But with the hefty contracts already on their roster, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to think Ezeli could be on a different team next season, along with teammate Harrison Barnes.

Being a restricted free agent could also raise his price tag as teams will be trying to force Golden State to spend a lot to retain the big man or trying to give Ezeli a contract out of Golden State’s price range. It could lead to Ezeli, a reserve center during his time in the NBA, to get overpaid, in which case, the Celtics shouldn’t go after him.

If his price isn’t too unrealistic, Ezeli could prove to be the defensive anchor the Celtics are missing down low. Amir Johnson probably won’t be back, considering he has a $12 million option, so Boston will be searching hard for someone down low to protect the paint.

His numbers don’t jump off the page like other free agents; seven points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks per game on 54.8 percent shooting. Although, his per 36 minutes stat line looks a lot more impressive; 15 points, 12 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. It shows that he’d easily be the most productive big man, on both sides of the floor, if given enough playing time with the Celtics.

The fact of the matter is, Ezeli doesn’t see a lot of playing time with the Warriors, and just like Barnes, a team will sign him off of potential. Festus Ezeli is 6’11” and has proven that his defense is his strong suit since getting drafted by the Warriors in the 2012 NBA Draft.

In 46 games this season, Ezeli averaged 1.1 blocks per game in 16.7 minutes – 2.3 blocks per 36 minutes. He also has a career-block percentage of 5.3 percent, which would rank among the league leaders if he qualified. He’s a true center whose game revolves around the paint, something that’s rare to find in the NBA these days. Even though Boston likes to get out in transition, there is no denying their need for a true big man who doesn’t want to shoot threes.

Ezeli could fill that role as 64.9 percent of his shots are inside of three feet and 92.1 percent are from inside 10 feet. He doesn’t have a lot of established post moves so Brad Stevens wouldn’t be able to run the offense through him, however, that’s not what they need him for. Ezeli picks up the scraps and gets a lot of put-backs. His 13.5 offensive rebounding percentage would have ranked in the top-ten if he qualified this season. He’s a bruiser down low who isn’t afraid to do the dirty work.

Concerns about Festus Ezeli are there though. Teams will be looking to pay him a good amount of money despite him having a couple of knee surgeries and never being a starter over long stretches for the Warriors. He bounced back from the knee surgery that kept him out of the 2013-14 season and is playing at a high-level after having one this season.

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Ezeli also has a tendency to commit a lot of fouls – 4.4 per 36 minutes – but that could be due to more aggressive play because he knows he’s not going to see a lot of minutes. However, when looking at his impact, the Warriors are a better team with him on the court. This season, Golden State is a +14.2 when he’s playing compared to +3.9 when on the bench.

He hasn’t had the opportunity to reach his full potential but what he has shown has been impressive. He doesn’t take a lot of shots but teams forget about him when Steph Curry and Klay Thompson go to work, which could happen if he’s on the Celtics and lead to easy baskets.

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Festus Ezeli has continued to improve every year but his price tag will be the deciding factor. Boston has a chance at signing someone to a max-deal and another player to a near max-deal, could Ezeli be someone who pushes them over the top?

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