The Celtics have searched high and wide for someone to plug into their frontcourt. Since the departure of Al Horford, there has been a noticeable hole in the middle.
While there is unlikely to be a real solution this season, the Celtics may already have their eyes on a candidate this summer — Dwight Howard (among others) who just so happens to be playing for their cross-conference rival.
(via Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report)
The only way the Celtics will have cap space this summer is if Hayward declines his $34.2 million player option, which he’ll almost certainly pick up given the lack of teams with money to spend. With Brown’s four-year, $115 million extension kicking in, Boston will actually have to shed some salary to get under the $139 million projected lottery-tax line.
That means looking for veteran big men who would either sign for the mid-level exception or for the veteran minimum, which could include Marc Gasol, Paul Millsap, Dwight Howard and Robin Lopez.
After being tossed around the league for a few seasons, Dwight has rediscovered his game this season. Averaging 7.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game, he has become a staple on the inside for the Lakers. For Boston, he could help improve their defense and compete against bigger teams like Milwaukee and Philadelphia.
Alongside long-distance shooters and playmakers, he could thrive at a level we haven’t seen from him in years.
