Boston Looking to Add Size on the Bench

The Celtics may have completed their last blockbuster of the summer but they're not yet done tweaking the roster: Danny Ainge worked out a handful of big men in hopes of finding another veteran center to stash at the end of the bench. From the Boston Globe:

Executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge confirmed yesterday that the team is working out several free agents this week at its Waltham practice facility, including ex-Celtics forward Eric Williams, center Kelvin Cato, forward-center Esteban Batista, and forward Linton Johnson III.

"These are guys that have other teams interested," Ainge said. "They're taking a look at us and we're looking at them."

The C's already have 15 contracts so a move isn't necessarily imminent, but it might be a wise move. As currently constructed, the bench has only one player taller than 6-9, and that's Scot Pollard. The team could use some height, not only for injury insurance but also to make practices a little more competitive. Williams and Johnson are only 6-8, but Cato (6-11) and Batista (6-10) are certifiable big bodies.

Cato has a longer NBA resume but Batista has more upside. He had a fantastic showing in the FIBA Americas tournament for Uruguay, averaging 20.8 points and 12.4 rebounds per game while earning high praise from opposing coaches and players alike. He's only 24 years old, and despite showing little in 13 games with the Hawks last year, he's a low-cost gamble worth taking. The only catch? He's a restricted free agent, meaning Atlanta has the right of first refusal if another team tries to sign him.