Did the Boston Celtics take care of business when it comes to their biggest weaknesses heading into the 2022-23 NBA season? Depending on when you are considering to have the clock start, the answer could be an emphatic “yes” — or a meek “no” that ultimately is not so much of a big deal.
If we are talking about since the Celtics heard the buzzer of Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Finals, then we can say that Boston did an excellent job of adding to a young and often stagnant bench mob that did not show up when the stakes were the highest with the additions of Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari.
But with three open roster spots heading into training camp and a mildly thin frontcourt rotation, the job is clearly not quite done, which is the angle taken in a recent analysis by Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz.
Celtics Lab 135: Diving into the seemingly endless combinations of lineups Boston could use in 2022-23 https://t.co/oYpvmfDSyl
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 10, 2022
“Despite having one of the better offseasons of any NBA team with the trade for Malcolm Brogdon and free agent signing of Gallinari, the Celtics didn’t really address their main (only?) weakness,” writes Swartz.
As we alluded to above, strengthening the bench was the main problem, and required shipping out veteran center Daniel Theis. If one argues Boston needs more than what the German could give, we might agree for the postseason.
But as far as the regular season goes, Thes would have been more than enough to keep Robert Williams III and Al Horford fresh for the postseason.
The Tennessee product says he’s planning on expanding his offensive repertoire, among other things. https://t.co/rbjOCqNPyY
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 11, 2022
The B/R analyst does hint at that perspective by noting Boston indeed got thinner up front moving Theis in the Brogdon deal.
“If Al Horford and Robert Williams III are once again the starting power forward and center, the Celtics only rotation-caliber “bigs” off the bench are Grant Williams and Gallinari. Both are best at power forward, so we’ll likely see plenty of Horford as the backup five as he enters his age-36 season.”
“Boston should look for at least one more defensive option at center for depth, with Hassan Whiteside likely being the best available,” he adds.
At the start of a career-spanning rivalry, the two friends prepared to meet for the first time in the NBA. https://t.co/GoGA2qGo1b
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 10, 2022
We strongly disagree that Whiteside is the best option here for reasons of chemistry as much as age.
Boston doesn’t need a vet with an ego to feed, and their current plan to hand the job to the best player or two from training camp among a cadre of younger players seems likely to produce similar results on the court without the demands of an established player with a possibility for upside as well.
The problem of a third big man is likely not an especially large one with center Luke Kornet already on the roster, but the B/R writer is not wrong to suggest that it has yet to be resolved decisively.
With recent offseason moves, Boston’s backcourt depth is very deep – but one guard stands above the rest. https://t.co/PVaSyhTllJ
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 10, 2022
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