JARED_SULLINGER_KINGS.JPG

Boston Celtics center Jared Sullinger (7) celebrates after making a basket as Sacramento Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas (22) returns to bench after a timeout was called during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, in Boston.

(AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

Jared Sullinger's father, Satch, recently told an Ohio news station that the Boston Celtics have "kind of promised" his son they would acquire a true center.

"Next year I think he's going to finally get to play his true position of power forward," the elder Sullinger told ABC6. "And so, at that point, he's going to come home and he's going to trim down and shed some pounds, so he gets a quicker step and a little more mobility. Because they've kind of promised him that they're going to get a center."

It's no secret the Celtics would like to acquire a legitimate center. Except on the few occasions when Vitor Faverani looked like a solid big man, the team had nobody to man the middle. Jared Sullinger, Brandon Bass, Kelly Olynyk and Kris Humphries all took turns out of position, but really they are power forwards. Whenever pressed on his team's most pressing needs, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge would note that he wanted someone capable of protecting the rim.

Not that the Celtics believe Sullinger will necessarily develop into a fringe MVP candidate, but they hope he can develop sort of like Kevin Love. The Celtics encouraged the 22-year-old to shoot threes -- even though he only hit 26.9 percent of them -- because they envision the day when he can spread the floor. They want him to shed weight so he can become more active, more consistent and more mobile. They think he will be able to create more shot opportunities and become even better on the glass once he improves his conditioning.

Right now, in a smaller NBA, Sullinger's not quick enough to guard some fours. He needs to put in the work this summer so that when he does get a chance at what should be his best position, he's ready.

(H/T CelticsBlog)