From the way the Boston Celtics have been playing over the first four games of the 2023-24 NBA season, it would be hard to identify an obvious area in need of improvement with the Celtics now the owners of the best record in the East and tied for the best in the league with the Dallas Mavericks at 4-0.
But Boston has another 78 games to play to finish the regular season and at least another 16 after that (and probably a lot more) if they want to win a title. So with their big man depth still a bit thin, adding a third frontcourt player able to not only absorb minutes to keep Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford healthy and spry for the postseason but also able to fill in for them in the playoffs if one or both is unavailable seems the last weak link in the roster left for the front office to address.
There has been no shortage of speculation about how the Celtics might address such an issue, with the latest popular candidate being former Celtics center Daniel Theis, currently languishing on the bench of the Indiana Pacers after a strong showing in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
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Understandably nonplussed to be the only active player to not see the floor in the Celtics’ 155-104 demolition of the Pacers on Wednesday, the path for Theis to end up back in Boston is a fraught one due to his contract and Indiana’s designs on improving a solid and rising roster.
But other candidates could conceivably meet the needs of what the Celtics would be after, including former NBAer Kenneth Faried, currently staging a comeback attempt with the Mexico City Capitanes, using that squad as a means of elevating his profile at the G League level while helping that team to pursue its first G League title.
Danilo Gallinari reflects on season spent with Boston Celtics: 'I could have helped the team a lot' https://t.co/aRt3Q5DJaf pic.twitter.com/0K9XejW83P
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 3, 2023
Faried, whose name has come up in such a capacity on podcasts like CLNS Media’s “How Bout Them Celtics” for just such a reason, has been remarkable with the Capitanes as their defensive anchor in the frontcourt.
While his shot still needs work from 3-point range, he’s improved his away-from-the-cup shot in Mexico City and averaged 13.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game with the Caps over 29.1 minutes per game.
And at his last stop, the Houston Rockets in 2018-19, Faried put up 12.9 points, 8.2 boards, and just under a block per game in a role similar to what he might be tasked with in Boston on nights he’s called on to fill a larger role.
A closer look at Boston's 155-104 blowout of Indiana reveals unparalleled dominance https://t.co/OfAJPcGA8y pic.twitter.com/i6XYuYrS1z
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 3, 2023
A postseason vet with four series over three years to his name, Faried also has playoff experience he could lean on should he be called on to be more than a regular-season minutes eater.
Asked about the prospect of a return to the league with the Celtics as a third big, Faried told the Celtics Wire that such a potential move “would be a blessing.”
“That’d be a blessing,” he continued. “I’m just happy to hear my name comes up back in the NBA — I’m going to work my tail off to get back there, but at the same time, I can’t sit here and dwell when you hear that.”
Pacers' Daniel Theis was unhappy about benching vs. Boston, open to Celtics reunion https://t.co/0q2CeV8OEe pic.twitter.com/wZCcskTRSH
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 3, 2023
“I just keep working and doing what I can,” said Faried. And what the Morehouse St. Alum can do is rebound, protect the rim, get stops, and be physical — all attributes it seems the Celtics are looking for in their frontcourt rotation this season.
There may be players better suited to deliver some of that already on Boston’s roster in Oshae Brissett and Neemias Queta, but both are inexperienced and inconsistent.
Faried is not a perfect option for the Celtics to fill such a need, but at this stage of the season, few such options if any exist. If Boston decides it wants to bring in a vet who has been there before for such a role, calling up Faried to see what’s what could well be a savvy move to make.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 2, 2023
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