Ainge says Celtics need a dependable scorer
In spite of the positives the Boston Celtics have demonstrated this season, the roster still feels incomplete. President Danny Ainge agrees with that assessment, admitting the team needs a consistent scorer.
"I think the one thing that we could really use is a go-to scorer," Ainge told 98.5 The Sports Hub on Thursday. "We have some guys that have carried us ... but we have got to - it would be nice to find another player that's a reliable scorer at the end of games, night in and night out."
Rumors have linked Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins to the Celtics since last season, but virtually all reports indicate there have been no discussions between the two teams.
With a boatload of draft picks over the next few years and a glut of power forwards, conventional wisdom has been that the Celtics are likely to swing some sort of deal sooner or later. In the radio interview, Ainge named five players who the Celts have leaned on this season for scoring - Isaiah Thomas, Kelly Olynyk, Avery Bradley, Evan Turner, and Jared Sullinger - none of whom will ever be mistaken for a No. 1 option.
The Celtics are 14-12 going into the weekend, which is outside of the playoff picture in the competitive Eastern Conference. Boston has the fourth-best defensive rating in the NBA at 97.8 points per 100 possessions, but are in the bottom half of the league offensively.
- With h/t to Masslive.com