As it stands, the Boston Celtics have a roster capable of making noise in the Eastern Conference. However, even with this, they still are far from a perfect team. At what point could they find themselves looking to upgrade at their center position?
Coming into 2019, the Boston Celtics are seen yet again as a top-tier team in the Eastern Conference. Numerous media outlets are optimistic for the franchise’s outlook for the upcoming season, specifically FiveThirtyEight.com who has them finishing as high as third in the standings out East.
With a roster chock full of talent, it’s hard for one to bet against Boston being a legitimate playoff threat in such a weak conference. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward and Marcus Smart alone could have potentially guided this team to a postseason berth. This offseason, however, Boston added an All-NBA point guard in Kemba Walker. With the move, Beantown is now in a position to, at the very least, match last season’s success.
As it stands, the Boston Celtics’ greatest strength resides at their wing position. In fact, the team could realistically roster four All-Stars in this area of the roster. The perimeter is the least of Boston’s concerns heading into 2019.
The front court, on the other hand, is a different discussion.
Starting center Enes Kanter is a stick of dynamite of offense but a matador on defense. His Defensive Box Plus/ Minus last season was a whopping -0.3. While he’s destined to drop points at will, so too will he let them up.
Though the league has shifted to more of an offense heavy approach, at the end of the day defense still wins championships. If the Boston Celtics wish to legitimately compete for a chip, Kanter is most certainly not the answer down low.
Right off the bat, the Celtics will square off against some of the most menacing front courts the league has to offer in 2019. From Joel Embiid to Giannis Antetokounmpo, Boston will have their work cut out for them in the first week of the season.
With the fact that they are slated to play the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors four times, the Detroit Pistons three times and many other talented tandems up front on multiple occasions throughout the year, it may be seen as a given that Boston will struggle mightily protecting the rim.
If they prove incapable of preventing points in the paint on a nightly basis, at what point should the Boston Celtics consider making a move?
Quite frankly, the team should already be considering balancing out their roster. While plenty of focus this summer was placed on replacing Kyrie Irving at the point guard spot, no such effort was made to replace Al Horford and Aron Baynes in the paint.
Should the Boston Celtics take to the trade market, there is not a single better option than Indiana Pacers center, Myles Turner. Turner could be available by trade given the potential extension looming for Domantas Sabonis, whose talents overlap in the Indiana frontcourt.
If the situation arises where Indiana must unload one of their big men, the Boston Celtics should offer the Pacers whatever it take (within reason) to acquire Turner. The 23-year-old fits Boston’s timeline to both contend now and in the foreseeable future. With the Celtics, he would have the opportunity to grow alongside fellow Team USA participants Brown, Tatum and Smart.
Given Boston’s firepower along the perimeter and in the backcourt, Turner would complement both areas with his style of play. Unlike in Indiana, there would be no positional redundancy in the front court. With the Boston Celtics, Turner would unequivocally be the number one option at the five spot.
What Turner does best is exactly what the Celtics need. Averaging two blocks per game for his career, Turner could be the rim protecting missing piece needed to bring Boston another championship.
Even if it takes giving up a wing player, if the opportunity arises, Danny Ainge must do what it takes to complete this potential title-winning lineup.