Celtics reportedly interested in trading for Andrew Bogut

The Boston Celtics have largely struggled to defend the rim in the Brad Stevens era, but they may just the right solution in mind.

According to a report by Marc Stein of ESPN on Friday, the Celtics are interested in trading for Dallas Mavericks center Andrew Bogut.

Bogut, 32, is averaging 3.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 25.0 minutes per game in 2016-17 but is currently sidelined with a bone bruise in his knee. He is under contract for $11 million this year and will become a free agent after the season.

The Mavericks are 4-17, so it would make sense for them to flip some of their veterans in exchange for assets. Meanwhile, the Celtics are 13-8 but rank 12th in the league in field goal percentage allowed at the rim and 26th in rebounds per game (per NBA.com).

Though Al Horford starts at the 5 for Boston, he’s played roughly 20 percent of his minutes this season at power forward (per Basketball Reference) and could hypothetically switch over to the 4 now that he’s shooting three-pointers with regularity. Pairing him with Bogut in the frontcourt would make for quite the two-way tandem, provided that the Celtics can swallow the injury risk.

H/T theScore