Reports: Celtics to sign C Ryan Hollins

Well, this amounts to attempting to stop a flood with a mop and a bucket.

The Boston Celtics will reportedly add free agent center Ryan Hollins to their roster on Thursday, according to reports from Yahoo Sports and the Boston Globe. Hollins is reportedly expected to join the team officially on Thursday and should be available for Boston's game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.

CSNNE.com reported the reaction from Celtics president Danny Ainge, who said veteran leaders Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett endorsed the signing.

"They really liked his game and the way he could play with them," Ainge said. "I think he would fit in well with what we do."

Hollins was bought out by the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this week and will help fill out a Celtics frontline that has taken a number of hits over the last 12 months. In addition to the retirement of Shaquille O'Neal, the Celtics lost forwards Jeff Green and Chris Wilcox for the season with heart-related ailments and center Jermaine O'Neal was lost for the season this week due to season-ending wrist surgery.

Hollins, 27, is a lithe 7-footer who has bounced around over the years. He appeared in 24 games for the Cavaliers this season, posting averages of 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. He will join a Boston frontline that now includes Kevin Garnett, Brandon Bass, Greg Stiemsma and JaJuan Johnson.

During a six-year NBA career that includes stops with the Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Cavaliers, Hollins holds career averages of 4.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.

The Celtics are currently in the Eastern Conference's No. 7 position with a record of 24-21.