The Boston Celtics are struggling, and Kyrie Irving feels the team need a veteran presence to help whip the young guys back into shape.
The Boston Celtics aren’t off to the greatest start and one reason is some players aren’t playing up to their capabilities or with a since of urgency.
In trying to work players like Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward back into the mix, the early season struggles are not surprising. What is surprising is how the team seems to be unable to overcome those struggles.
While Celtics head coach Brad Stevens is doing his part by experimenting to see which players work well together, Irving feels the team is missing a 14-15-year vet to help the young players understand the grind of the long NBA regular season.
Following the team’s 1-4 road trip, Kyrie said the following, via Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe:
"“Right now I think it would be nice if we had someone that was a 15-year vet, a 14-year vet that could kind of help us race along the regular season and understand it’s a long marathon rather than just a full-on sprint.”"
That statement by Irving immediately opened up speculation about the team eventually going after Carmelo Anthony. That is not the kind of player this team needs.
Back in 2008, although Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen were experienced veterans, it was a player like PJ Brown who really put the team over the top. That kind of similar player will work on a talented roster like the Boston Celtics.
Here are five veterans who could provide that leadership on and off the court.
Jamal Crawford
There were rumors about mutual interest between the Boston Celtics and 18-year NBA veteran Jamal Crawford prior to the 2018-19 NBA season.
Crawford ended up signing with the Phoenix Suns, but as one of the most respected players in the NBA, he could be exactly the type of player the team needs.
Not only can he still provide explosive scoring off the bench, his veteran leadership could be a plus. With the Suns rumored to have interest in Terry Rozier, Crawford could be included in a potential package.
With his ability to play point guard, along with his scoring, he would replace Rozier’s depth at the position as well as his scoring. This would give Terry Rozier an opportunity to start for an NBA team while giving the Celtics the veteran presence Kyrie Irving says the team need.
Crawford’s defense would be in question, but with the depth the team would have even without Rozier would shield that. This is certainly a possibility worth watching as the season progresses.
Vince Carter
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At 41 years old, Vince Carter is the oldest active player in the NBA and still producing.
Currently, as a member of the Atlanta Hawks, Carter is averaging 7.3 points per game this season in 18.6 minutes played. He probably wouldn’t get that many minutes in Boston, but his mentorship to players like Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum would be the true value.
Like both of those players, Carter came into the league as a high draft pick with a ton of athletic ability and talent. Playing alongside Tracey McGrady in Toronto, Carter’s career really flourished, but he never came close to winning an NBA title.
What a player like Vince Carter could teach a player like Jaylen Brown, in particular, is that nothing in the NBA is guaranteed. As mostly a journeyman over the last few seasons of his career, the 6-foot-6 wing has certainly learned about the journey of the NBA and it would be cool if he ended it with an NBA title.
What better team to do it with than the Boston Celtics in the type of role Kyrie Irving says the team need.
Kyle Korver
The Boston Celtics were rumored to have had interest in veteran sharpshooter Kyle Korver before the season, so it won’t be a surprise if those rumors resurface.
Not only is Korver a veteran in the league with deep playoff experience, he could provide the team with a scoring spark off the bench. As he demonstrated in the Eastern Conference Finals between the Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, he is a player willing to do whatever necessary to help his team win.
That is exactly the type of veteran the Celtics could use.
Sure, his defense may be a weakness, but the intensity he showed in the playoffs could rub off.
As of right now, he is just averaging 5.5 points in 15.3 minutes with a struggling Cavs team, but he could be a value on a winning team with championship aspirations like the Boston Celtics.
If they have any interest in acquiring him, however, they will have to contend with the Philadelphia 76ers as reports have surfaced that the Atlantic Division rivals are interested in bringing Korver back to Philly. That may be all reason to target Korver.
Zach Randolph
In searching for a veteran player who is willing to serve as a teacher for younger players, 37-year-old power forward Zach Randolph comes to mind.
After spending most of his career with the Memphis Grizzlies, the 6-foot-9, 260-pound power forward certainly knows the grind of the NBA season. He also knows what it means to win as part of a Grizzlies team that competed in the Western Conference playoffs for a string of seasons.
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Not only is Randolph the type of veteran Kyrie Irving is referring to, he can still play the game. Taking more of a teaching role on a very young Sacramento Kings team, Randolph led the team in scoring at 14.5 points per game.
With the Boston Celtics, he could give the team some minutes at the 4 or 5. He would be a low post presence, but at the same time would provide leadership and doesn’t mind playing a smaller role to help the team win. That is his current situation with the Kings.
"“I understand it,” Randolph said of his diminished playing time with the Kings. “I want to play, I love to play and I still feel like I’ve got a lot left, but I understand what they’re doing with these young guys.”"
There is still some hunger left in Zach Randolph to win a championship. What better team to do that with than the Boston Celtics.
Danny Ainge has the chips to pull off a trade or the team can wait and see if the Kings buy Randolph out later in the season.
Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol in a Boston Celtics uniform?
Are you crazy?
Well, not really. This is a possibility that could make sense and possibly give the Celtics a chance to win a title this season.
I know, I know, this not the Gasol fans want, but he may be more available via a trade than Mark Gasol.
While the San Antonio Spurs are still competing in the Western Conference, they are far from championship contention unless things really fall apart in Golden State. With the Spurs reportedly interested in Terry Rozier, Danny Ainge could ask for Gasol.
Knowing Ainge, he would try to pry a first-round pick out of the Spurs but given the fact that Rozier is set to become a restricted free agent, getting a player with championship experience in return would be good value.
Pau Gasol is also a big man who could rebound and stretch the floor on offense. Just the type of player who could work well on the court the same time with Al Horford. It is certainly an intriguing possibility to think about.