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Three big-men the Boston Celtics could pursue without sacrificing their core

By Andrew Hughes

ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 30: Mo Bamba #5 of the Orlando Magic poses for a portrait during media day on September 30, 2019 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 30: Mo Bamba #5 of the Orlando Magic poses for a portrait during media day on September 30, 2019 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

Montrezl Harrell

The last decade of NBA basketball has proven that you do not need a dominant post-oriented center in the vein of Shaquille O’Neal or Hakeem Olajuwon to win a championship. LeBron James‘ Miami Heat teams and the Golden State Warriors dynasty under Steve Kerr were built on ball-movement, versatility and positional flexibility.

That is why, at six-foot-eight, Montrezl Harrell is not only an option to fill the Boston Celtics center void, but he is a superior option on a one year, $6 million contract. The Louisville product proved to be one of the many reasons why the Los Angeles Clippers were long-term winners of the Chris Paul trade.

Harrell is a per-36 minute monster. His stats read out as follows: 22.7 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal per game. Any team can use that sort of full-court production, but Boston could especially use a disruptor down in the paint.

Truth be told, Harrell is an essential member of the Los Angeles Clippers core. Even though Ivica Zubac is likely to start games just as he did after being dealt from the crosstown rival Los Angeles Lakers at the trade deadline this past February, it will likely be Harrell finishing them. With that said, what would inspire the Clippers to let go of such a valuable asset?

It could come down to one major element: money. Though Steve Ballmer has shown that he is willing and able to open up his wallet, Harrell could price himself out of LA with continued stellar play. The Boston Celtics could acquire the same problem, but they could be a piece like Harrell away to get over the hump in the Eastern Conference. A short-term gamble would be worth giving up a package that doesn’t include one of the C’s franchise cornerstones.

In truth, we don’t know how the Clippers will fare in the west. They might not even be the best team that plays in the Staples Center, and the Western Conference is not short of potential contenders with the Lakers, Houston, Denver, Portland and Utah all improving their rosters over the offseason.

If things don’t go as planned for LA’s little brother, Ainge should get former Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers on the line to talk about the beastly center’s availability.

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