5 free agent destinations for Hassan Whiteside

3. Boston Celtics

It’s no secret that the Boston Celtics are seriously in the market for a natural center and rim protector that’s also a capable offensive player. It’s the reason that they were in discussions around the 2016 NBA Trade Deadline about a potential deal for Dwight Howard and, subsequently, it’s the reason that they figure to be involved in the bidding war for Hassan Whiteside this summer.

For the past few seasons, the Celtics with Danny Ainge in the front office have built a highly talented and deep team, but they’ve been just a piece or two away from being looked at as a viable contender in the Eastern Conference. A big reason for that has been the lack of a real big man in their frontcourt, a problem that Whiteside would naturally fill. Not only is he capable of blocking shots and protecting the rim better than anyone currently on the Celtics roster, but he’s also a viable threat to score around the rim with his athleticism and length.

Moreover, the Celtics are interesting in connection to Whiteside in terms of what head coach Brad Stevens would be able to potentially do for the young center. As stated numerous times, there are concerns about Whiteside’s commitment to not just chasing stats on the hardwood. That largely goes out the window under Stevens who has proven to be a guru, more or less, with his ability to corral his players. More than anything about the Celtics and Whiteside, that makes the potential for this signing highly intriguing.

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