The Boston Celtics have gotten through the offseason, training camp, and now the preseason, which leaves only one thing left for them to do — make the most out of their 2021-22 season.
Last year’s campaign was certainly one to leave in the rearview for the shamrocks, as they followed up an Eastern Conference Finals berth in 2020 with a mere .500 record and a first-round exit via gentleman’s sweep in 2021.
Now, with a revamped rotation and a fresh face in Ime Udoka holding the clipboard on the sidelines, fans of the organization find themselves in possession of a new sense of hope as the franchise tries to thrust itself back into the conversation of being one of the Eastern Conference elites.
That said, before they can fully embark on this journey back up the totem pole the Cs must make sure that they’re fully stocked and ready to go for the season and, as of this current writing, they find themselves with one rather sizeable task that still must be accomplished: filling in their final standard roster spot.
One of just 11 teams left that still have at least one of said slots open within their roster, President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens, will almost certainly be scouring the free agency market to see who he believes could be of service with this final rotational addition.
While there may be many different opinions on who the Boston Celtics should consider targeting, we at HH feel there are 3 who should be high on the team’s radar:
Boston Celtics free agent option No. 1) DeMarcus Cousins
Long have we been asking for a Boogie signing in Beantown and, though he may not be what he once was, the free agent still is perceived as a low-cost option for a team that could use for center depth and, with the injury-riddled Robert Williams III’s newest ailment coupled with Al Horford’s high-end age range, perhaps the Boston Celtics could be more inclined to stockpile the position than we previously thought.
Just a few years removed from being one of the premier big men in the entire NBA at his peak, DeMarcus Cousins boasts career averages of 20.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks on 46 percent shooting from the floor and 33 percent shooting from deep.
Splitting time between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers last season, predominantly in a bench role, the 6-11 center put up averages of 8.9 points, 6.4 boards, and 1.9 assists on 43 percent shooting from the floor and 35 percent shooting from deep, though his shooting splits jumped significantly to 54 percent from the floor and 42 percent from deep when playing with the more competent Clips.
Like LA and unlike Houston, the Celtics are a team legitimately vying for playoff contention and have plenty of stars in tow that can help a proven commodity like Cousins contribute at an efficient rate whilst logging minutes on the hardwood.
The center’s upside alone should warrant strong consideration from Boston’s front office (just three years removed from averaging 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks) and price tag that likely would come with him should only make such a move more realistic.