Celtics Sign Blake Griffin; Here's What He Provides and Why They Chose Him

Blake Griffin was the most dynamic center available in free agency.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Celtics' center rotation took two significant hits this summer. First, Danilo Gallinari tore his ACL, an injury that's likely to sideline him for the season. Then, Robert Williams underwent an arthroscopic knee injury and won't resume basketball activities for 8-12 weeks. That means Boston might be without the Timelord until January.

Additionally, Al Horford's 36, and after only playing in 28 games with the Thunder in 2020-21, he's coming off a Finals run and truncated offseason entering the 2022-23 campaign.

While the Celtics believe in Luke Kornet, banking on him to successfully make the most significant leap of his career, going from third string to a rotation fixture was ill-advised.

The signing of Blake Griffin, an acquisition reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, gives Boston a proven option to add to its depth at the pivot. Per Wojnarowski, Griffin's deal with the Celtics is a one-year contract that's fully guaranteed. Rather than making a trade, this move allows Boston to enter the season with its rotation intact, which was always the team's preference.

Injuries and aging have slowed the now 33-year-old Griffin, but while he's not the same caliber of player who earned six All-Star appearances and got named to an All-NBA Team five times, in the short stints he'll be on the court, he can still make an impact at both ends of the floor.

He showed a glimpse of that when he scored eight points in less than eight minutes against the Celtics in Game 3 of their first-round matchup against the Nets, making two of his three attempts from beyond the arc.

Griffin's also the most mobile of Boston's free-agent options at center. He isn't reduced to a deep drop when the player he's guarding comes up to set an on-ball screen.

Furthermore, he's the most versatile offensive option the Celtics could've signed. As his career has unfolded, he's evolved into a much-improved facilitator, long-range shooter, and ball-handler. Griffin averages 4.1 career assists per game. Last season, he shot 26.2 percent from beyond the arc on 2.6 attempts per contest, but the year prior, he knocked down 38.3 percent of the 3.1 threes he hoisted.

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Additionally, Boston likely believes Griffin will fit well in the locker room. And after averaging 17.1 minutes in 56 games with the Nets last season, including 26 starts, and logging 21.5 minutes with them the year before, there's an expectation he'll handle this role with the necessary maturity rather than becoming a distraction while making clear his frustration over a lack of playing time or touches.

Further Reading

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Dynamic Working with Celtics' Coaching Staff Mostly Brought on by Ime Udoka

Celtics Taking Notice of Jayson Tatum's Growth as a Leader

Bob Huggins Shares His Perspective on Joe Mazzulla Becoming Celtics Interim Head Coach

Malcolm Brogdon: 'this is the most talented team I've played on'

Celtics Players Only Know So Much About Ime Udoka's Suspension, But They're Focused on Weathering the Storm

Here's What Jaylen Brown Had to Say About Communication with Celtics After Coming Up in Trade Rumors Again

Joe Mazzulla Discusses College Arrests, His Subsequent Journey, and Becoming the Celtics' Head Coach

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