WALTHAMKevin Garnett is used to being the center of attention.
According to Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, we can look for Garnett this season to be the centerperiod.
Even though the future Hall of Famer has spent the bulk of his career at power forward, Rivers doesn't believe it'll be that big an issue.
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"When he was younger, that might have been a problem," Rivers said. "But now it's a pretty good place for him."
The idea of having Garnett play more in the middle is both out of necessity - Jermaine O'Neal is the team's only center with NBA experience, and he may be traded any day now - and the reality of what Garnett, 35, can provide at this stage of his career.
"He's older; he's bigger, stronger," Rivers said. "He can play both positions. He can spread the floor for us at that position. You can play him and (newly acquired) Brandon Bass together. Both of them can shoot the ball; either one of them can guard the five or the four. It makes us pretty versatile."
The idea also speaks to how thin the NBA free agent market is for reasonably-priced centers. Once you get past Tyson Chandler, Nene and Samuel Dalembert, the chances of finding an impact player at the center position are slim.
Rivers added that the idea also takes into account how there are very few physically imposing, dominant centers today which means Garnett wouldn't endure an unusually high amount of wear and tear beyond what he's used to.
The C's will continue to keep an eye out for opportunities to add another center to the roster. But it doesn't appear to be as much of a necessity now, primarily because of the additions of Bass and Chris Wilcox who are both power forwards with the ability to play some at center.
When asked whether the Celtics needed to add another center, Rivers responded, "we do and we don't. If we don't have one, I'm not that upset by it. I'll always take one, so if you can find one for me, please help out. But I think we have enough fours (power forwards) who can play both, and if we have enough fouls, we can get away with it."