Boston Celtics: Why the C's Must Re-Sign Brandon Bass

With the impending free agency of so many Celtics just around the corner, it's not terribly surprising that most of the news, rumors, blogs and discussion has centered around the two members of the Big Three that may be headed elsewhere, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

Not a lot has been said or written about another free agent who played most of the year in the starting lineup and had a major impact on the team's run all the way to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Brandon Bass last week opted out of the $4.25 million player option in his contract to test the free-agency waters. It was a wise move; Bass clearly outplayed his deal and was right to wonder what he could be worth on the open market on the heels of his excellent debut season in Boston.

Now, the C's have to make enough room in their plans—from the upcoming draft to Garnett's potential retirement—to bring Bass back into the fold.

Bass posted career numbers across the board this season, and is exactly what the Celts should be looking for as they look to reload in the post-Big Three era. He's young, improving and ego free. Bass did nothing but stand in line, do his job and do it well all year long.

And he wants to be in Boston as well. After the Celts were eliminated from the playoffs, he stated categorically that he hoped to be back, telling reporters (as per CSNNE.com), "For any player, this is the organization you want to play for."

Given Bass' age, skill set (excellent spot-up shooter, solid rebounder and on-ball defender) and desire to sign long term in Boston, bringing him back should be a no-brainer for Celts' GM Danny Ainge and the front office.

He could well be a cornerstone, further growing into his prime alongside Rajon Rondo under the tutelage of coach Doc Rivers, who loves him and his game.

The C's need to figure out what's going on with Garnett before they can proceed with their offseason plans. And with the draft now less than a week away, the team is likely zeroed in on what to do with their two first-round picks.

Re-signing Bass must be near the top of the list. It's a low-risk, high-reward scenario for the C's, who will have themselves a true professional headed into his prime for multiple years if they seal the deal.