The Boston Celtics had been largely anticipated to take a spot 12 months of kinds after Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles, and the departure of a number of key gamers within the offseason to duck the dreaded second apron. Even in a wide-open East, Boston was not anticipated to be aggressive.
Now, the Celtics discover themselves a half-game again of the Knicks for the second seed within the East and are very a lot within the contending combine. Jaylen Brown is enjoying the perfect basketball of his profession, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard have stepped up as ball-handlers, and Boston’s youth in Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, and Neemias Queta have shined as properly.
Even with all of their success, the Celtics ought to pursue upgrades at their middle spot. After the departures of Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, Boston has been searching for a long-term resolution on the 5. There’s one Western Convention middle that will be the repair to that drawback.
The Celtics should go all-in for Clippers middle Ivica Zubac
Zubac has been one of many NBA’s most regular facilities over the previous few seasons. He’s a robust rim-protector and is a bodily rebounder.
If there’s one space the place the Celtics may be uncovered, it’s within the paint. Boston is simply twenty sixth in defensive rebounding proportion, and twentieth in offensive rebounds allowed. Conversely although, the Celtics are one of many NBA’s higher offensive rebounding groups, and since December 1st, have allowed the bottom factors within the paint per sport. That’s the place Zubac is available in.
He has averaged a minimum of 9 rebounds per sport within the final 4 seasons, together with double-digits within the final two. He has a defensive rebounding proportion of 23.4, which might lead Boston. He’s additionally inside the highest 20 in offensive rebounding proportion, which inserts proper in with the Celtics’ tendency to crash the offensive glass.
Zubac can be on a manageable contract, as he’s within the first 12 months of a three-year extension and makes underneath $20 million yearly in every of the three years. That is excellent news for a Boston staff that wishes to keep up monetary flexibility.
Zubac provides the Celtics the beginning middle they have been searching for
Boston has been out there for a long-term resolution of their frontcourt ever since they traded Kristaps Porzingis away. Zubac matches proper in with their identification and provides them a bodily presence inside that can assist them match up with extra bodily groups.
The Celtics are proper within the combine within the East this season, and with Tatum anticipated to make his return in a pair months, having Zubac within the fold will solely increase their championship prospects for now and sooner or later.
