Boston Celtics: 2 free-agents that would be perfect fits on Cs

Perfect free-agent fit No. 2: Serge Ibaka, PF/ C

Going back on the statement saying we are never afraid to highlight the flaws on the Boston Celtics, the weakness within the team’s rotation that we’ve talked about the most this year has easily been their center spot.

Now look, this is by no means us bashing the likes of current starter Daniel Theis. In fact, we have stated on numerous occasions that the third-year German native has produced quite well in his first season as a starter and should be considered as a long-term fixture within the C’s rotation.

However, while this sentiment still rings true, that’s not to say that if the team could find a talent that’s more desirable and, based on all accounts, better that they shouldn’t jump at the chance of nabbing them.

In this upcoming free agency class there are a few big-men that we believe, if the team had the finances, would be wonderful additions for Boston. However, none are as perfect a match in terms of play-style as current Toronto Raptors power forward/ center Serge Ibaka would be.

Averaging 16 points, 8.3 rebounds, and just shy of a block per game on 52 percent shooting from the floor and 40 percent shooting from deep, Ibaka is exactly the type of player a Brad Stevens-run team would love to have at the pivot.

Offensively he has an impressive array of post moves and can easily help Boston space the floor better (shoots 36 percent from deep for his career).

Defensively, well, we know how good he can be. The man referred to as “Serge-I-block-a” is a 3x All-Defensive First-Team selection and a 2x NBA blocks leader — averages 2.1 blocks a game for his career.

In short, what are two of the biggest things a team wants from their center in the modern-day NBA? If you said the ability to space the floor and play solid defense, you’d be right and Ibaka has proven capable of doing this all throughout his decade long tenure in the league.

The Brazzaville born big would also bring much-needed veteran experience to this Boston Celtics roster that currently ranks as the ninth youngest in the association.

Throughout his tenure, Ibaka has garnered ample postseason experience, seeing deep playoff runs on seven different occasions and, last season, won an NBA Championship with the Raptors — for his career, he averages 10.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game on 50 percent shooting from the floor and 36 percent shooting from deep.

While it may seem ridiculously far-fetched that Ibaka would jump ship in Toronto, as I stated in an article a little while back:

"Some may find it a hard thing to believe that any team could pry Ibaka away from Toronto this offseason. However, if his main goal is to win another ring, he might be able to be convinced to switch area codes — or countries, in this situation — if a greater opportunity were to arise. Joining a much younger core consisting of younglings like Jayson Tatum (22), Jaylen Brown (23) & Marcus Smart (26) as well as early-30’s talents such as Kemba Walker (30) and Gordon Hayward (30) might appear to be more of an enticing move for the 30-year-old Serge Ibaka."

A likely signing this offseason? Probably not. However, if somehow the stars were to align and the shamrocks actually find themselves in the running for Serge Ibaka’s services, they should do everything in their (realistic) power to try and make him their starting center come the 2020-21 season.