NBA Rumors: Boston Celtics Looking for a Center, Should Sign Erick Dampier

Any time Erick Dampier is mentioned as someone who can help your team, you know your team isn't in a good situation.

However, the Boston Celtics don't have many options at this point. The only legitimate center on their roster is Jermaine O'Neal and he's not the same player he used to be.

Brandon Bass has been a huge addition to the Celtics bench, but he's a power forward who has been playing out of position as a center at times.

Boston needs another legitimate center to pair with O'Neal. Based on the available free agents—of which there aren't many—Dampier appears to be the best choice.

He's probably just six fouls and some minutes off the bench at this point in his career, but that's something the Celtics need this season.

Glen "Big Baby" Davis had to play out of position after the Kendrick Perkins trade last year and the Celtics suffered because of it.

They can't make the same mistake with Bass this year. Bass has been a great backup for Kevin Garnett, but the Celtics will suffer if he has to continue being the backup center as well.

Dampier didn't do much on last year's Miami Heat team, but he didn't have to do much for the team to be successful. He could face a similar situation this year with the Celtics.

He averaged only 2.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 16 minutes per game last season. If he can average a similar level of production this season, the Celtics will be in better shape than they are right now.

He also averaged just under a block a game last year. If he can do that for the Celtics and provide some decent interior defense, the second unit will be better for it.

Putting him in the middle and letting Bass work more on the perimeter will make the Celtics second unit defense harder to score on.

Once again, while it's not an ideal situation by any means, bringing in Erick Dampier will help the Celtics this season.

He can give them height, defense and some much-needed bench minutes.

The Celtics will then keep their fingers crossed that Jermaine O'Neal stays healthy. It's a long shot, but it's the only shot Boston has this season.