Potential free agent Aminu on Celtics radar

CSNE

A. SHERROD BLAKLEY

BOSTON -- When Al-Farouq Aminu signed a two-year, $2.08 million deal with Dallas last summer, the goal was to help the Mavericks win, get some playing time and re-establish his value as an NBA player.

He couldn’t help the Mavericks get past the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, but his play in the postseason did wonders for his own stock which has him on radar of a number of teams – including the Celtics.

Aminu is a wiry, 6-foot-9 small forward with above-average athleticism, who, more than anything else, hasn’t found that right fit yet.

In the playoffs this season, Aminu seemed to have found that balance.

In Dallas’ five-game series, he averaged 11.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 54.8 percent from the field and 63.6 percent on 3s. And he did this playing 30 minutes a game – something that won’t happen next season when Chandler Parsons (knee) returns to the lineup.

While Aminu doesn’t necessarily move to the front of the Celtics’ offseason wish list, there’s no question he is a player that in part based on his postseason play, has to be given some consideration.

The Celtics are intent on re-signing both Jae Crowder and Jonas Jerebko, whom they acquired from Dallas and Detroit, respectively, this past season.

If the Celtics fail to reach a deal with their own two free agents, don’t be surprised if Aminu becomes a greater priority.

But the Celtics will surely have some competition for Aminu, who was the eighth overall pick in 2010 by the Los Angeles Clippers.

He has a player option that’s worth $1.1 million, but his strong play in the playoffs will likely result in him making himself a free agent this summer.

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I never heard of this guy until the playoffs.  Just one more of the literally hundreds of variables that could make this one of the most interesting summers in recent memory.

Sam

Sounds interesting.  Let's see what Danny thinks.  (I believe we're going to be saying that a lot this summer.)

Sam