Boston Celtics Must Re-Sign Brandon Bass to Compete Next Season

The Boston Celtics have a lot of decisions to make this offseason, but one thing the team needs to do is retain Brandon Bass.

Bass was due to make $4.25 million next season, but the Boston Globe reports that the six-year veteran will opt out of the final year of his contract. 

Coming into the season, few would have considered the power forward a necessary piece of a contending team. However, a breakout year and a great playoff run will be enough to give him the raise he deserves.

On a team full of veteran stars, Bass established career-high numbers in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. His 12.5 points per game were fourth on the team and his 6.2 rebounds per game were second-best on the team.

Although it does not show up on a box score, he also is a great defender that can guard players both inside and on the perimeter.

Boston general manager Danny Ainge has to find a way to keep together a team that came within one game of reaching the NBA Finals. Unfortunately, there are a number of free agents that fans do not want to see leave.

Future Hall of Fame players Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are both unrestricted free agents this offseason. Each had productive years, but it is important not to spend too much money on 36-year-old former stars. Ainge needs to avoid giving multi-year deals to players that will not produce towards the end of those contracts.

Conversely, Bass is only 27 and does not have a lot of mileage on his body. He was barely given a chance to play until last year with the Orlando Magic, but he has proven in the past two seasons that he belongs. 

The power forward wants to return to the Celtics. According to Comcast Sportsnet, he told reporters after the team's final game, "I would love to be back here. The fans here are unbelievable. For any player, this organization is the organization that you want to play for."

Boston needs to grant him his wish and lock him up long-term. With Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce returning, they should once again be contenders in 2012-13.