NBA: 3 Teams That Could Pursue Nenad Krstić in 2011-12

Due to the shortage, and thus high demand, of quality centers in the NBA, teams sometimes resort to overpaying for big men that are not already established in the league.

There are only a handful of already-established veteran centers in the league, and they are usually hard to acquire without giving up a good portion of a roster.

Players like Nenad Krstić may not seem an ideal fit for the long run, but he can fulfill the necessary duties in the short-term. Krstić has played for the New Jersey Nets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Boston Celtics in his seven-year NBA career.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics are looking to add some more depth in the frontcourt during the offseason in order to make an attempt at another championship run. Veterans Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen will become free-agents at the end of the 2011-12 season and this might signal the start of a new era in Boston, with both players (and Paul Pierce) heading into the twilight of their careers.

Center Jermaine O’Neal is also entering the final year of his contract. Glen Davis is also an unrestricted free-agent, and with O'Neal's injury problems, the Celtics need to bring in some big men.

Nenad Krstić spent the second half of the 2010-11 season with Boston, and would be a perfect fit, as he is a veteran who can shoot the basketball and rebound.

However, the Celtics will need to fork over some cash to bring him out of his current CSKA Moscow contract if they do decide to bring him back for another season.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors are looking for a center to join their roster in order to move Andrea Bargnani to his more natural spot at power forward.

They already have international players on their roster, and Krstić may be an intriguing short-term addition. He could bring some veteran experience north of the border.

After drafting Lithuanian big man Jonas Valanciunas earlier this year, bringing in Krstić temporarily might just work as Valanciunas is not expected to make his debut until 2012-13. The team can sign him to a small contract, and wait for Valanciunas to arrive next year.

Houston Rockets.

The Rockets have been on the look out for a big man to play alongside Kevin Martin and Luis Scola next season.

With the retirement of Yao Ming, and Hasheem Thabeet not near NBA-ready, there is an opening in the low post. Compounding the depth problem, Chuck Hayes is an unrestricted free-agent, giving the Rockets a major issue to fix before/(if) the 2011-12 season starts.

Hayes has been an amazing story in the league, playing the center spot despite standing at only 6'6". Should they turn to Nenad Krstic?

He may not be the ideal fit into their offense, but may be a decent short-term option.

He has slowed down ever since his knee injury back in 2006-07, but might be worth signing if the Rockets are unable to bring in another big man before the start of the 2011-12 NBA season.