Boston Celtics: 3 former All-Star centers Cs could pursue
By Nick Swanson
Boston Celtics center option #1: Andre Drummond
Andre Drummond is a very weird player in today’s NBA. With a playstyle similar to players from the ’80s and ’90s, he doesn’t really fit with the mold of the modern-day center like Joel Embiid or Nikola Jokic.
His lack of shooting ability is certainly concerning but his defensive prowess is incredible. The best rebounder in the league today, and by the time he retires probably of all time, he could be the final piece that the Celtics need to really make a Finals run.
Drummond is a powerful, determined, and relentless rebounder that has been stuck in bad situations with bad players throughout his entire career. On the Celtics, his only job would be to rebound and convert putbacks.
You won’t see consistent back downs or any forced offense in the paint because you have players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to carry the offensive load. He’d be a defensive anchor and an impactful presence in the paint that can match up defensively with the elite centers in the league. His role would be as a pure rebounder that is offensively capable enough to draw an occasional double team that can allow for a kick out to a shooter.
The Celtics currently rank around the middle of the pack, 18th to be exact, in rebounds per game. With the addition of Drummond, that would improve drastically. Generally, the teams that win the rebounding battle, win the games. In terms of defense, he would help an already great defensive team get even better.