Misplaced in all the offseason strikes the Boston Celtics have made to slash final yr’s wage is the truth that they’ve arguably the worst middle rotation within the NBA. That is after buying and selling Kristaps Porzingis and having Al Horford and Luke Kornet depart in free company.
That leaves them with a comically dangerous middle rotation of Chris Boucher, Neemias Queta, and Luke Garza. That might sink their playoff probabilities subsequent season, however they could have parted methods with a participant who might have helped them.
Charles Bassey, though by no means signed to the Celtics, performed for them in the summertime league and confirmed a promising talent set that might have helped them subsequent season. Bassey averaged a terrific 15.3 factors, 11.0 rebounds, and a couple of.7 steals, and shot 70.4% from the sphere in three Summer season League video games. As a substitute, he stays unsigned and should find yourself taking part in abroad subsequent yr.
The Celtics opting to not deliver him in, even on a minimal contract, looks as if one thing they may quickly remorse.
The Celtics will remorse not signing Charles Bassey subsequent season
Bassey beforehand performed for San Antonio and, when wholesome, proved himself to be a dependable backup large man.
He wasn’t purchased again, nonetheless, as a consequence of his failing to remain wholesome, with him struggling two season-ending surgical procedures in his three seasons there.
He nonetheless flashed indicators of his outdated self final season, significantly as a shot blocker and rebounder. He also needs to be a lot better, a full yr faraway from him tearing his patellar tendon, and he performed effectively within the NBA Summer season League, hinting that he has regained his earlier stage.
That makes the Celtics’ resolution to not signal him all of the extra puzzling. He won’t be a starting-caliber middle, however on subsequent yr’s Celtics workforce, it is exhausting to say that he could not begin for them.
The Boston Celtics might commerce for a beginning middle subsequent season
Do not be stunned in the event that they wrestle subsequent season with middle being a giant bugaboo. All hope is not misplaced, nonetheless. They may swap just lately acquired guard Anfernee Simons to the Chicago Bulls for Nikola Vucevic in an expiring contract for expiring contract commerce.
He’d be a giant improve over the Celtics’ present crop of bigs and would not negatively have an effect on their cap going ahead.
General, the Celtics’ resolution to not signal Bassey is unusual contemplating that he would have been an improve over their present trio of facilities. As a substitute, they could attempt to tread water at that place and hope {that a} starting-caliber middle turns into obtainable through the season.
