Boston Celtics free agency: 3 center targets Cs should prioritize for MLE

Harry Giles

My co-editor Mark Nilon recently made the case for signing Harry Giles for the mid-level exception, noting that he could be a good “second-chance” target for the Boston Celtics:

"The young talent has had a rocky start thus far to his NBA profession. Seen as one of the best basketball prospects in the country back during his high school days in 2016, a series of knee injuries have managed to derail his once promising career. Selected 20th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers — later traded to the Kings — in the 2017 NBA Draft, the idea was that Giles would be healthy by season’s end to take to the hardwood and get some minutes under his belt before reaching year two of his rookie contract. Unfortunately, this did not turn out to be the case and his entire rookie campaign was somewhat of a redshirt season. Since officially logging his first minutes in the league, the chance Sacramento took on Giles has not panned out the way they had hoped (seven points, 3.9 rebounds on 52 percent shooting) and, with that, the franchise has opted to decline his fourth-year option for the 2020-21 season, making him an impending free agent. With this, the idea of the Boston Celtics pursuing the 22-year-old with their MLE should be a no-brainer."

Giles could be another in a long line of big men who thrive after leaving the Sacramento Kings (DeMarcus Cousins, Hassan Whiteside) and the Cs are a natural landing spot considering Jayson Tatum was his college teammate.

A union makes sense for Giles and the Celtics, and if Brad Stevens can unearth his potential, he can be a postseason pendulum swing.