With a March 1 playoff eligibility waiver deadline looming, the Celtics have a window of opportunity to add depth to the roster before the last couple of months of the regular season and beyond.
These three options are worth considering as potential free agency additions as the campaign enters the final stretch.
1. James Wiseman, Center
If the Celtics are looking for a young big with plenty of potential, James Wiseman is the perfect option. Wiseman was the second overall pick in the 2020 draft but has yet to live up to his high draft status in the four seasons since.
He spent one year at the University of Memphis where he played in the school’s first three games and averaged 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, and three blocks per game per NBA.com. Wiseman spent parts of his first three seasons with the Golden State Warriors organization and parts of the last two seasons with the Detroit Pistons.
The Celtics could certainly use a player with Wiseman’s potential on their roster. Currently, the team’s big rotation includes Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet. All three players present their own concerns. Porzingis, while one of the best big men in the league when healthy, has an extensive injury history.
For Horford, now 38 years old, his best days are behind him and this season may be his last in the NBA. As for Kornet, he has been a career backup center.
While James Wiseman has his own injury concerns, he presents a cheap, starting-caliber center for the Celtics with plenty of room to grow. In addition, if Wiseman is signed to the team, all three veteran players can serve as mentors.
If I were Brad Stevens, Wiseman’s potential would be too much to pass on and I would sign him instantly to the Celtics' final roster spot.