Hardwood Houdini
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3 backup bigs the Boston Celtics could still sign in free agency

By Michael Ivanoskos

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 30: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Utah Jazz goes up for a shot while Naz Reid #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends in the fourth quarter of the game at Target Center on January 30, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Jazz 126-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 30: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Utah Jazz goes up for a shot while Naz Reid #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends in the fourth quarter of the game at Target Center on January 30, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Jazz 126-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics are assembling a complete team before our eyes this offseason. The additions of Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari bolster a generally hollow second unit. One area which cost them in the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.

We question why Ime Udoka did not play his bench past his regular eight-man rotation in the playoffs? Maybe it’s because he simply did not have the luxury of deploying playable bodies in big games.

When you look at the names that were flipped for Malcolm Brogdon, only two of them (Daniel Theis and Aaron Nesmith) saw meaningful minutes in the postseason, but even those minutes were few and far between.

Despite their recent moves, however, the Boston Celtics still have one gaping hole on their roster that has yet to be addressed–they have no backup center option.

Unless they are giving ol’ Luke Kornet a promotion, Brad Stevens and co. should be in the market for a new frontcourt commodity.

Unfortunately, names like Isaiah Roby, Thomas Bryant, and Gorgui Dieng are all off the board as of the last few days.

Because of this, the C’s need to act quickly and swiftly to salvage a rotational center.  Al Horford is aging and needs his minutes down to be kept fresh for a possible deep postseason run. Robert Williams is historically injury-prone and cannot be counted on to play more than 60 games in a regular-season slate.

Also, playing Grant Williams at the five should only be done in spurts and is not a long-term solution, but purely situational. The other option is a Vanderbilt center who has never been a rotational big in his career.

With this all in mind, today we present to you 3 backup center options for the Boston Celtics in free agency:

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