What can Blake Griffin bring to the Celtics after signing a one-year deal?
With injuries spread across their front court, the Celtics are definitely in need of some help and the acquisition of the veteran may yet be the missing piece of the puzzle.
Though much of the focus in recent days has been on the suspension of their coach, the Celtics have had an interesting development where their roster is concerned and the addition of a certain veteran to it.
Update: Blake Griffin retires in April 2024
Blake Griffin joins Boston Celtics on one-year deal.
According to reports, veteran forward Blake Griffin has signed a one-year, fully guaranteed deal with the Boston Celtics. Now 33-years-old Griffin had spent the last season on the roster of the Brooklyn Nets and was understood to still be a free agent. Where the Celtics are concerned, the move makes perfect sense having seen Danilo Gallinari sidelined due to a torn ACL, which he suffered during FIBA World Cup qualification with Italy. It’s likely that Gallinari won’t play this season. There is also the case of Robert Williams III, who continues to recover from surgery on his knee. It will be at least 8 weeks before he can foreseeably take to the court.
What’s the Celtics’ situation and how does Blake Griffin fit in?
Where the Celtics front court is concerned, there were really only two main options as we entered training camp: Al Horford and Grant Williams. While Luke Kornet was largely expected to get more minutes following the Williams’ injury, the reality is he had only played in 12 games last season. That of course begs the question as to just how much could be expected of him. There was also talk of former first-round pick Mfiondu Kabengele who signed a signed a two-way contract with the team in the summer and in indeed showed flashes of brilliance, but it would be a stretch to say that he’s a sure bet.
What does this all mean? The Celtics need all the help they can get in the frontcourt. Consider for a moment, Gallinari was signed largely to give cover to Horford. While the 36-year-old absolutely brilliant last season, he did play 92 games and approximately 2,820 minutes between the regular season and the post season. No disrespect, but that’s not sustainable for a player of his age and even less so, if they want the Dominican to be at his best when the playoffs roll around.
What can Blake Griffin bring to the Celtics?
In truth, despite his age, Griffin will undoubtedly offer the Celtics adequate cover for the aforementioned Horford. Where his offensive production is concerned, the six-time All-Star averaged 6.4 points. 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists on 42.5% shooting from the field and 26.2% from beyond the arc across 56 games last season. Those aren’t exactly eye-opening numbers and it should be said, that Nets coach Steve Nash eventually took the decision to stop playing Griffin altogether, but make no mistake, Griffin’s experience in the league is invaluable.
If there is one thing we can count on, it’s that Griffin will not only work hard, but he will definitely work the boards, while pushing the pace on the floor. Should the former NBA Rookie of the Year re-establish his shooting game, he will undoubtedly be an asset. That is of course, before we mention the added benefit of having a veteran of his stature in the locker room.
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