Boston Celtics have a ‘bigs’ problem and here’s who can help

A Dose of Reality

So, if Enes Kanter, Hassan Whiteside and Davis aren’t walking through that door, who could?

Veteran Hawks big man Dewayne Dedmon is eminently available and, at a reasonable $7.2 million, wouldn’t require a major sacrifice in talent. His Per 36 average of 11.2 rebounds (and 1.7 blocks) would be useful. But Dedmon is also a highly limited player who might struggle to find minutes once Horford and Baynes return to full health.

Brooklyn’s Ed Davis, Chicago’s Robin Lopez and Cleveland’s John Henson offer similar, albeit limited, production and the Celtics could probably make a match without sacrificing much of value.

But in the writer’s opinion, the guy I’d love to see donning Celtics green sometime soon is Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic. The 7’0″ center is enjoying a career year on a Magic squad currently just outside of the playoffs.

With recent high draft picks Mo Bamba and Jonathan Isaac in need of minutes and with Vucevic a free agent at the end of season, it makes sense for the Magic to at least listen to offers. Further, one of their bigger needs is at point guard, where 31-year-old DJ Augustin is their top ball handler. An offer centered on Rozier, with Morris as salary filler/veteran presence, Yabu as a throw-in with upside and one of the Celtics many upcoming first round picks might at least start the conversation.

Regardless, let’s hope we’ve seen the last of Semi Ojeleye at center and Hayward guarding Brook Lopez. Maybe Horford will return soon. Maybe Williams can give more than eight minutes a night going forward. But hopefully Danny Ainge and Stevens have a better solution to their “bigs” problem than maybes.