Danny Ainge will have his work cut out for him starting at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday.
That’s when NBA free agency officially begins, and after a rather underwhelming NBA draft that didn’t include a major trade, the Boston Celtics’ president of basketball operations will turn to the open market to try to transform his team into a title contender.
Kevin Durant is the player on everyone’s wish list, but the Celtics can’t bank on landing the Oklahoma City Thunder star, given the other serious contenders for his services. And while landing Durant would be the ultimate coup, Boston has other needs it should address this offseason if it wants to improve on last season’s promising 48-win campaign.
Here are the top three items that should be on Ainge and Co.’s wish list entering free agency, as well as the best fits for each need:
1. A legitimate frontcourt starter
The Celtics are extremely guard-heavy, and while the league is trending toward small ball, Boston still needs a frontcourt upgrade. Amir Johnson, 29, arguably was the Celtics’ most impactful two-way big man, and Jared Sullinger led Boston’s frontcourt with just 10.3 points per game. The C’s would benefit greatly from a versatile big man who is polished on offense and serviceable on defense.
Best fits: Al Horford, Dwight Howard
2. A rim protector
Johnson was a decent defender last season, but Sullinger, Tyler Zeller and Kelly Olynyk aren’t going to scare anyone in the paint. The Celtics blocked just 338 shots last season, 22nd in the NBA, and need a low-post presence who can rebound and block shots if they want to compete with the likes of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference.
Best fits: Hassan Whiteside, Bismack Biyombo
3. A sharpshooting wing
No. 3 overall pick Jaylen Brown could be a fine player, but his addition didn’t address a major concern: This team can’t shoot. The Celtics shot just 34 percent from 3-point range last season, third-worst in the league, and were doomed by poor shooting in a first-round playoff loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Boston is thin at the wing, so bringing in a swingman who can knock down the long ball should be a top priority.
Best fits: Harrison Barnes, Chandler Parsons
4. A go-to scorer
Isaiah Thomas averaged a career-high 22.2 points per game during last season’s All-Star campaign and has a fine supporting cast. But the Celtics need a bona-fide, top-rate scorer if they want to take the next step from feel-good story to legitimate championship contender, and the Paul Pierce of eight years ago isn’t walking through that door.
Best fits: Kevin Durant, DeMar DeRozan
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
