Celtics Working to Fill Front Court Holes

When a team with championship aspirations only has two healthy forwards with NBA experience under contract, there is cause for concern. That is sadly the current state of affairs for the Boston Celtics who find themselves with Kevin Garnett and Glen Davis as their only experienced and healthy big men with Kendrick Perkins expected to be out until at least January following knee surgery and second round pick Luke Harangody not expected to play major minutes as a rookie. The team did add another body to the mix yesterday, signing center Semih Erden from Turkey. Erden was a second round pick of the Celtics in 2008 and is expected to at least fill the role of Shelden Williams as the team's emergency center. The 24-year-old 7-footer has the potential to develop into a solid NBA center but for now he at leasts gives Doc Rivers another big body for his bench. In other news, it looks like the team might be interested in signing free agent Shaquille O'Neal with its Mid-Level Exception. The 38-year-old O'Neal would give the Celtics a big body to plug into the middle while Perkins is recovering and would be an excellent fit with the veteran C's like Garnett and Paul Pierce as he looks to add at least one more championship to his Hall of Fame resume.