By A.Sherrod Blakely
CSNNE.com
NEWARK, N.J. -- You better believe the Boston Celtics will be in the market for at least one center during the offseason.
They may not have to look too far to find one.
Although it's still early, Nenad Krstic's representatives like what they've seen thus far in this Krstic-Celtics union that may eventually lead to a relationship beyond this season.
Krstic will earn 5.53 million in this, the final year of a three-year, 15.5 million contract he signed in 2008.
A free agent this summer, Krstic has fit in quite well with the Celtics -- better than most would have anticipated.
His agent, Marc Cornstein, likes the way the Celtics have integrated his client into their game plan, but preaches patience in discussing Krstic's long-term plans with the C's.
Boston Celtics
"He's a great fit for the team," Cornstein told CSNNE.com. "It sounds like the Celtics feel the same way. Let's get through the rest of the year and the playoffs. Hopefully they have a great run and he has a great run with them. We'll take it from there. But it certainly has been as good as we could have hoped for at this point."
When the C's made the trade with Oklahoma City that featured Jeff Green, with Krstic as more of a throw-in, few would have expected the 7-foot Krstic to be such a valuable contributor so quickly.
In nine games (all starts), he has averaged 12.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 55.3 percent from the field.
His play has helped cushion the blow of not having Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal around, both out with injuries.
The reason for Krstic's strong play is pretty simple.
In Oklahoma City, most of the Thunder offense went through All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Look at the numbers.
While with the Thunder this season, Krstic averaged just 6.5 field-goal attempts per game. With the Celtics, he's up to 8.8 per game.
"Just getting more involved, especially offensively," Krstic said. "I'm touching the ball. In Oklahoma City, I didn't really. Sometimes five or six times I didn't touch the ball. It's not to shoot, just to touch the ball. Here is different. If you play aggressive, you run the floor, get a good duck-in in the paint, you're going to get the ball."
Cornstein acknowledged how the C's Big Four have gone out of their way to embrace Krstic, which has helped make the adjustment smoother.
"They're so comfortable with each other," Cornstein said. "Being the fifth guy in there has been an easier adaptation than if you're getting thrown in with all new players still learning each other. He recognized that this was a new opportunity for him. He relishes the chance to win a title and be a contributing factor in that happening."
And while the plan still remains that Shaquille O'Neal will be the starter when he returns, Krstic has proven himself to be far more valuable than a stop-gap measure or a 'throw-in' player in the trade centered around Perkins and Jeff Green.
"It doesn't matter to me, about starting or coming off the bench," Krstic told CSNNE.com. "I'm learning a lot, because everything is new to me. I'll do whatever the team needs me to do. I just want to win, that's all."
A. Sherrod Blakely can be reached atsblakely@comcastsportsnet.com.Follow Sherrod on Twitter at http:twitter.comsherrodbcsn