Boston Celtics: 2 veteran big men Cs could pursue with MLE

It’s been an interesting offseason for the Boston Celtics, who have made moves to improve the team’s outlook for the 2021-22 season without bringing on any long-term keepers.

Having a team consisting of mostly expiring contracts and young, unestablished talent could foster a competitive environment. That’s the working plan (presumably) in year one of the Ime Udoka experiment.

From what we have seen in the last few years, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are the presumed center of the Cs universe. Everyone else on the roster has to figure out how they can help those two reach a higher ceiling as a duo.

For President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens, the remainder of the offseason needs to be spent figuring out who he can add to further that mission.

Perhaps Boston’s summer league team could unearth some diamonds in the rough. Israeli 2020 second-round draft pick Yam Madar showed yesterday he could bring a unique international flair to the floor from the point guard spot, deflecting and poaching in the passing lane to slow down the Atlanta Hawks summer league offense. Undrafted 2021 free agent Sam Hauser was adept at knocking down 3-pointers in rhythm off the catch and shoot. 2019-20 rookies Romeo Langford, Carsen Edwards, Payton Pritchard, and Aaron Nesmith all showed improved energy from a 2020-21 season that was lacking in the hustle department up and down the depth chart.

That said, relying on youth is a risky proposition. While youth on the wing could enable the team to get up and down the floor, when the game slows down, adding a veteran to a locker-room coming into their own, and these 2 big men could be the kind of signings that pay off come playoff time: