The Boston Celtics are going to be forced to be patient in free agency. Despite the large amount of salary cap space they have entering the offseason, marquee names are not flocking to Boston for a contract. With names like LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love and Greg Monroe on their wish list, the Celtics do not have any meetings schedule with those stars forcing them to target second-tier free agents, something that is not pleasing to Danny Ainge.
The Celtics' general manager admitted he was disappointed the team failed to get any trade deals done during the NBA Draft and he was hoping for different results when the market opened up. According to the Washington Post, the Celtics are stuck in free agency purgatory as they lack a true super star to bring in other talent. The Celtics have young talent like Marcus Smart set to emerge, but without that big name to recruit other players, Boston is struggling. Ainge disputes the idea that free agents are not interested in Boston this offeason even if the team is not landing Aldridge or Love.
"Free agents will come," Ainge said, via ESPN.com. "But we have to create an environment that makes players want to be here. I think we have a fantastic ownership group. We have a fantastic head coach. We have a lot of quality young players. So free agents that see themselves fitting in with our culture, our team, they'll come."
According to the New Orleans Advocate, the Celtics are not out of the running for Monroe who plans on visiting the team this week. However, Chris Broussard of ESPN is reporting that Paul Millsap, Aldridge, Love and DeAndre Jordan will not be heading East to meet with Ainge which will leave Boston targeting smaller free agents once the market begins to settle down.
A.Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com is reporting the Celtics have already reached out to Corey Brewer in free agency who spent last season excelling with the Houston Rockets. The eight-year veteran raised his stock during the postseason looking like one of the better defenders and win players which the Celtics would love to acquire.
ESPN.com is reporting that players like Tyson Chandler and Robin Lopez could be targets for size, something the Celtics were looking to get in the NBA Draft. The Celtics have been looking for an elite big man to anchor the defense and pick up the rebounding effort. Either Lopez or Chandler would be solid replacements to players like Jordan and Aldridge. Meanwhile, as Broussard reports the Los Angeles Lakers are landing a meeting with Kevin Love, the Boston Celtics are looking to get one as well. Most NBA sources believe is preparing to re-sign with Cleveland, but Boston will give it one more shot.
