FanPost

Traits the Celtics Should Be Looking for in Potential Big Man Free Agents

Unless the Celtics find someone who is worth changing the system to fit around, Danny Ainge should be looking for centers who would be a good fit. Contrary to popular belief, he isn't looking for under-sized bigs who can chuck up threes. So what makes a good fit for the Celtics under Brad Stevens?

I am of the opinion that Stevens is primarily a defense-first coach, so he is looking for bigs who fit his system. That means that he wants bigs who can switch on defense and defend in space. Big men who can only defend one position and who can be exploited by a stretch big who forces them to defend out to the perimeter are players to be avoided for significant money.

On offense, Stevens prefer bigs who can move the ball and stretch the floor. This doesn't mean they have to be three-point sharpshooters, although that helps. You want to avoid a player who makes the Celtics play 4-on-5 in the halfcourt, where a talented help defender can effectively play free safety off of a man who doesn't need to be guarded closely.

A young player who checks all those boxes is easily worth the max for the Celtics. On the other extreme end, a player who is good at lobs and put-backs on offense and rebounds and blocks on defense but is mostly worthless more than three feet from the basket probably shouldn't get more than $4-5 million and, arguably, is only good value if he is paid less.

A free agent who the Celtics sign is likely to be in-between those extremes. Anyone who looks like a one-way player is a temporary place-holder while Ainge looks for a more permanent solution. Such a player should be given a shorter contract, no more than two years, for no more than the MLE. A two-way big who can't switch on defense might be overpaid if the Celtics give him more than $15 million per year.

The gap between decent centers who might get $8-15 million per year and those who will be squeezed out of the market might not be that big. If Ainge can't get a good price for guys like Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris, or Brook Lopez, I would not be surprised if he signs a few bargain-level bigs to cheap contracts that can be traded. I wouldn't be shocked if Daniel Theis is the starting center to begin the season with someone like Robin Lopez as his competent backup. The question is if they are willing to go with a starting power forward already on the roster or if they sign a veteran to soak up minutes there.

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