Three centers the Boston Celtics should target this offseason

The Celtics have a big offseason. The Boston Celtics have been in contention for a championship for at least five years, and with the talent in their duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, you could argue that only a single Finals’ appearance in that time is an underperformance.

They need to make big moves this offseason. If they’re committing to the duo again, they need to work on building the roster out around them, and the focus should be on acquiring a genuine big. 

With a low draft pick, it’s unlikely that they’ll be plugging that hole effectively with the draft, but there’s plenty of floor-stretching bigs capable of shooting the 3 and defending the paint that they could trade for this offseason. Here’s three options that instantly improve the Celtics.

Onyeka Okongwu (Atlanta Hawks)

Probably the best option on paper, Okongwu of the Atlanta Hawks had a complete season for a big last year, even in a season of turmoil for the Hawks. He’s one of only four centers in the league to average more than two made three-pointers per game (three of which are on this list), and he’s also become a great playmaker as his career has developed.

At 25 years old, he’s also the perfect age for Boston’s title window. Unfortunately for them, the Hawks are aware of how valuable Okongwu is, and would demand a serious package to put him on a flight to Boston. Boston have limited flexibility, but it’s an achievable deal if Boston are willing to make some sacrifices. 

Naz Reid (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Reid is the most proven three-point-shooting big on the list, and the player analysts most frequently pair with the Celtics' needs. He's 26, fits the timeline perfectly, he can run the floor, protect the rim, operate above it, set screens and knock down threes.

Reid would also be difficult to pry out of Minnesota, but he would seriously level up Boston’s offense and defense. With Boston looking to challenge in the Eastern Conference now, he’s a great choice as a ready-made piece of a championship contender. If you want to bet on the Celtics pursuit of the NBA Championship, you can download betting apps for android via GOAL to get involved in NBA betting before the season begins.

Myles Turner (Milwaukee Bucks)

Turner has arguably the best fundamentals on this list, and is on paper one of best ball players available at center on the market right now. He’s a fantastic shot-blocker, and is made in the mold of the floor spacer/rim protector that Boston need at the five. Even with some rough form this year and some injury trouble to boot, he’s a quality floor-spacing big.

Getting him out of Milwaukee might be a tricky task. Not only has he just signed a four-year, $108.8M deal with the Bucks, the Bucks are dealing with serious problems, desperate to hang on to Giannis Antetokounmpo. If the Bucks tear their roster apart with a rebuild, Turner might become the most achievable option for the Celtics.