Boston Celtics: 3 best free-agent fits during upcoming transaction window

Free-agent fit No. 1: DeMarcus Cousins, C

Indefinitely the hottest name on the open market heading into the upcoming transaction period, signing DeMarcus Cousins would make a whole lot of sense for the Boston Celtics.

For a majority of the season, we’ve discussed the idea that the Celtics seriously need to bolster their center rotation if they truly wish to compete with the other threats down low within the Eastern Conference.

With the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Nikola Vučević, and Al Horford roaming around in the upcoming playoff picture, Boston is more than likely to see action against at least one of these aforementioned ballers. And, while starter Daniel Theis has proven to be serviceable throughout the year, him being the team’s best option at the five won’t likely cut it against these other top-tier talents.

Enter Boogie Cousins.

Now, this isn’t the first time we’ve discussed the possibility of the center joining forces with the Boston Celtics, and frankly, even if they don’t nab him this go around we’ll likely discuss the team pursuing him this offseason.

The past few seasons have been hard on the once menacing center. By the mid-way point of his career-best season with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2017-18 — averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 points, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals & blocks on 47 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent shooting from deep — the All-Star center suffered an unfortunate Achilles tear and, thus, missed the remainder of his contract season.

From there, Cousins never received a payday he proved to deserve when healthy and, in turn, has struggled to stay on the court ever since.

Most recently, just months after signing with the Los Angeles Lakers this past offseason Boogie ended up tearing his ACL during a workout just months before the 2019-20 season. Subsequently, he was to sidelined for the entirety of the season and, by the mid-way mark of the season, was cut by LA.

Now, roaming on the free agency market the four-time All-Star finds himself getting healthier every day and still seeking a place to call home upon his impending return.

As science tells us — thanks science! — it typically takes around six to nine months for a torn ACL to heal. Now spanning on 10 months — 11 once the season resumes — it’s a fine assumption that the center could make his way back onto the hardwood by the end of the 2019-20 season and help a team in the running for a championship along the way.

Might that team be the Boston Celtics?

It’s obviously a risk, being he hasn’t played a lick of meaningful basketball since the 2019 NBA Finals, but when healthy there’s no doubt that this 6-10, 270-pound behemoth of a man is a force to be reckoned with — stuffs the stat sheet with career averages of 21.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game on 46 percent shooting from the field and 33 percent shooting from deep.

With their need for offensive production off the pine and quality depth at the center position, the Celtics should easily consider bringing on DeMarcus Cousins for their 2019-20 championship push.