The Boston Celtics have a lengthy wishlist of players they intend to target in free agency, but lately that list is getting shorter and shorter. At the moment, LaMarcus Aldridge and Kevin Love have been crossed off the list as are trades for players like DeMarcus Cousins. While general manager Danny Ainge is hoping players like Isaiah Thomas will recruit big names, the options are getting slim leaving the Celtics to really battle it out for certain players.
According to Gery Woelfel of the Journal Times, the Celtics will be putting in a bid for Greg Monroe in free agency. Ainge has made it clear that defense is a priority for him and Monroe is one of the better players available at the center position. Monroe has not been happy in Detroit after the Pistons did not offer him a max contract last year as a restricted free agent. That leaves many to believe Monroe plans on leaving Detroit regardless after his one-year contract expires.
Woefel writes that competition for Monroe will be high as the New York Knicks are also expected to place a bid on him. The Knicks have more cap space and can offer a better contract that Boston, but the Celtics are hoping they have the more desirable roster. Monroe will likely be picking money before a team which could give New York the edge in negotiations.
The Celtics will first try and get a defender in the draft. Woelfel reported last week that Boston is prepared to dangle their late first-round draft picks to trade up for players while making their first pick at No.16. The issue is that Boston is not getting a lot of interest from top draft picks. Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald is reporting that the Celtics have not worked out potential lottery pick players heading into the draft. Sam Dekker pulled out of his workout with the team. Boston will try and get workouts with Justise Winslow and Willie Cauley-Stein in hopes of grabbing them in a trade.
Ainge is not interested in waiting around to rebuild anymore. He is planning on capitalizing this year. If a trade up is denied, Monroe becomes a priority. DeAndre Jordan, Marc Gasol and Brook Lopez could also be priorities depending on how the draft goes for the Celtics. If necessary, ESPN.com believes players like Brandon Bass and Jared Sullinger could be shopped in trade deals.