The Boston Celtics center rotation is a genuine weak point within Joe Mazzulla’s roster. The franchise lost Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet during the summer, leading Neemias Queta to become the primary big man.
Boston’s lack of talent in the middle of the floor is already showing, especially on the defensive glass, where the team is struggling to force opponents into single-shot possessions. It’s clear that at some point, the Celtics will likely need to trade for a starting-level center, be that this season or in the near future.
According to Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report, Goga Bitadze could be a viable target to shore up Boston’s big man rotation.
“The Boston Celtics enter the season thin at the center position and are obviously concerned about their current and future finances,” Swartz wrote. “Trading for Goga Bitadze would solve a number of issues. Bitadze is one of the most underrated players in the NBA, part of a center rotation with the Orlando Magic who have helped anchor one of the league’s best defenses.”
Bitadze would likely be an attainable trade target. The Orlando Magic would certainly want to keep him around, but wouldn’t be able to request an unrealistic trade package for a player who has never sniffed an All-Star appearance.
The Celtics’ Issues Aren’t Just At Center
It’s not just the center rotation that is a problem for the Celtics. Their front-court rotation is also an area of concern. There’s limited depth at the power forward position, which is why Sam Hauser is playing outside of his role to begin the year.
Furthermore, the lack of depth across the wing could become an issue if the Celtics find themselves navigating injuries during the year. By potentially adding Bitadze to the rotation, Mazzulla could move Xavier Tillman Sr. to a power forward role, where his lack of size would be less pronounced, and his switchability on defense could be maximized.
Of course, once Jayson Tatum returns from injury, the Celtics will have far more depth to lean on within the forward rotation.
Tatum Isn’t Expected To Return This Season
During a recent interview on WEEI, Wyc Grousbeck noted how the Celtics are operating under the assumption that Tatum will not return to the rotation this season.
“We’re not gonna ever ask him to come back,” Grousbeck said. “We’re assuming he’s not coming back. And we’re not even gonna have any discussions about it. If at the end of — at some point he’s gonna be ready to come back, whenever that is, we’ll get five doctors’ opinions. I’ll never bet against Jason Tatum, but nor will he be asked by the Celtics to come back early. That’s not gonna happen.”
Even if Tatum does return to the rotation this season, he won’t be near his best. It will take time for him to ramp back up and get back to the All-NBA level we’ve become accustomed to.
Therefore, the Celtics’ lack of depth in the front court remains a legitimate issue. Whether Brad Stevens decides to make a move or ride it out, will be the question on everyone’s lips as we get closer to the trade deadline.
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