Tyler Zeller added weight, excited for chance to start with Boston Celtics

Tyler Zeller had a busy summer.  He got married, got traded, and added several pounds of weight.

Bulked-up Tyler Zeller eager to claim starting center spot for Boston Celtics, hopes for playoffs, 'very excited' to be coached by Brad Stevens | masslive.com

"I felt like last year I played a little underweight (at about 250 pounds), and if I gained 10 or 15 pounds, I would be able to hold my own a lot better down low," he said. "I was able to do that and hopefully I can continue to get better and better. I hope that will help me hold my own rebounding-wise as well as in the post." What is his ideal playing weight? "Between 260 and 270 I think," Zeller said. "For a (center) I think that's a reasonable weight. You've got guys like Dwight (Howard), people like that who are 300 pounds. So you've got to be able to hold your own against them, but you also have to be able to move with the guys who weigh less than that."

This time of year is always fun for these kinds of stories.  Player X has been working out all summer and has either lost 15 pounds of fat or added 15 pounds of muscle or a little bit of both.  Some of that is legit and some of it is just body fluctuations over a summer away from basketball.  The only real way we'll know is over time and how the season progresses.

With that said, young players do tend to add weight over the first few years they are in the league - in particular big men. So I'm happy to see that he was committed to training and met his goals.  Now to see if he can play.  If nothing else, it sounds like he's excited for the opportunity.

Zeller looking to earn spot in C's starting lineup | Comcast SportsNet - CSNNE.com

The 24-year-old big man makes no secret about his goal this season is to be the Celtics' starting center. "I hope so," said Zeller, who is 6-foot-11. "That's the goal anywhere you go and that's my goal this year. But I have a lot of work to be able to earn that spot. I expect to have to earn it. It is a great opportunity and I'm going to do everything I can for that."

Zeller eager to earn starting center role - Boston Celtics Blog - ESPN Boston

"I know Coach Stevens is a very intelligent basketball coach; his basketball IQ is kinda off the charts, so I’m very excited," said Zeller. "And working him the past few weeks, everything has been very exciting, just to see his basketball knowledge and just how detailed he is."

I'm just excited that we have a legit center that knows his way around a basketball court.  Looking forward to seeing him on the court this season.