Motivation for Potential Celtics Signing Unaffected by Poor Timing

Players on the Celtics are lobbying for Blake Griffin to return to fill the team's vacant roster spot.

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The Boston Celtics enter Monday night's matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers with a chance to reach 50 wins in 65 attempts. They're also comfortably atop the NBA standings, claiming a 4.5-game cushion over the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are in second.

Their primary focus is getting sharp for the playoffs, especially after consecutive losses against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets called their crunch-time offense into question.

To Boston's credit, it returned to a more active and team-oriented approach when it got even more reps in the clutch, defined as the final five minutes of a game within five points, in Saturday's 117-107 victory vs. the Phoenix Suns.

But the Celtics also have an open roster spot. While far from a priority and not even a vacancy that requires filling, players on the team have lobbied for Blake Griffin to return.

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Adding a 13-year veteran who's loved in the locker room and can contribute by helping think through a game and a playoff series is about as much value as a franchise will find among those available in March who could aid their championship chase.

While Otto Porter Jr. doesn't have the same familiarity with the group as Griffin, the former Georgetown Hoya is a high-IQ player who helped the Golden State Warriors beat Boston in the 2022 NBA Finals.

He's also no longer under contract after the Utah Jazz waived him on Monday, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Unfortunately, while Inside The Celtics highlighted the 30-year-old forward as an intriguing target on the buyout market for the C's on multiple occasions, Utah parting ways with him after Mar. 1 means he is ineligible to participate in the playoffs.

Perhaps that doesn't deter Boston. It's more likely Porter, who's appeared in only 23 games since joining Toronto in the summer of 2022, would only check into a playoff tilt if Joe Mazzulla was emptying the bench. And he can add value with his intellect.

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It's disappointing that the Jazz didn't make this move until now, stripping him of the chance to prove he could contribute to a playoff team in some capacity on the court, but he also hasn't played since December.

If the Celtics want to bring him on board, his poorly timed availability to join their pursuit of Banner 18 doesn't dent their primary motivation for why they'd have an interest in doing so.

Further Reading

Jayson Tatum Plays Entire Second Half vs. Suns: 'Don't Really Say That Many Times'

Jaylen Brown's Evolution Crucial to Celtics' Desire to Win with More Than Talent

Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented

Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'

Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot

Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'