Celtics Named Best Fit for 6-Time All-Star Who Ranks 16th on NBA's All-Time Scoring List

Celtics Named Best Fit for 6-Time All-Star Who Ranks 16th on NBA’s All-Time Scoring List originally appeared on NESN.
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Should the Boston Celtics pursue DeMar DeRozan?

The six-time All-Star is an unrestricted free agent after being waived by the Sacramento Kings. Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale ranked DeRozan, 37, as the best free agent currently available and included the Celtics as one of his best fits.

Favale mentioned the Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz and Miami Heat as other possible landing spots for DeRozan.

“DeRozan has missed 13 combined games over the past three seasons and racked up more than 10 DNPs just twice for his entire career,” wrote Favale. “The absence of meaningful three-point volume works against him, but he’s averaged over 20 points per 36 minutes on better than 50 percent shooting inside the arc through each of the past seven seasons. Nikola Jokić, De’Aaron Fox and Jaylen Brown are the only other players who have done the same while qualifying for the scoring leaderboard.

“Sprinkle in a ‘I probably shouldn’t run the offense but can definitely initiate for others’ playmaking package, and we’ve got a potential late summer’s gem.”

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DeRozan ranks 16th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

The days of him signing a big deal are almost certainly over, but he still brings a lot of value. He appeared in 77 games with the Kings last season and averaged 18.4 points, 4.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 49.7 percent from the field. He can still get buckets, and he’s a very good passer.

The biggest question is what DeRozan’s best role is moving forward. The Kings reportedly thought about bringing him off the bench, but it was a “sensitive topic” for DeRozan, who has basically been a starter his whole NBA career.

If that’s still the case, DeRozan might not make sense for a Celtics team whose starting five is going to be tough to crack.

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