Despite earlier reports suggesting that the Boston Celtics and free agent Blake Griffin may be open to a reunion for the 2023-24 season, this no longer looks to be the case.
The 34-year-old big man played in 41 games for the Celtics last year, including 16 starts.
Griffin averaged 4.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 1.5 APG in 13.9 MPG. These were all career lows for the former Los Angeles Clippers star.
Boston has one roster spot left after their latest signing of Svi Mykhailiuk. And as it stands, the Celtics will likely move on from Griffin.
Boston Celtics Reportedly “Unlikely” to Re-Sign Blake Griffin
The Celtics signed Griffin to a one-year deal last offseason right before the 2022-23 season started.
Griffin was brought in mainly to be a depth piece behind Al Horford and Robert Williams III. Still, Griffin did exactly what was asked of him.
Though this isn’t the same Griffin that was catching lobs from Chris Paul in LA, Griffin is still an effective basketball player, even if in more of a limited role.
Griffin has become a locker-room leader and recently talked highly about playing for Boston.
If he does join a different team, it’s evident that both parties will miss each other.
What’s Next for the Celtics?
With one more roster spot open, the Celtics need to bolster their depth at the center spot.
Behind Horford, Williams III, and now Kristaps Porzingis, the only other big man rostered is Luke Kornet. And no offense to the creator of the “Kornet Kontest,” but it’s pretty obvious the team needs another big man on the roster.
Some quality big men still available include Christian Wood, Bismack Biyombo, and Serge Ibaka.
Wood offers scoring and is a double-double threat every night, but he may be too expensive for the Celtics.
Biyombo and Ibaka are both good defenders who would likely play a limited role for the Celtics – similar to what Griffin did for the team last season. Both bigs can offer quality minutes if needed, but neither would crack the rotation during the postseason.
What’s Next for Griffin?
Although Griffin was a fun addition for the Celtics last season, the 2011 Rookie of the Year is past his prime. At this stage in his career, he will likely be looking to make his way to another championship contender.
A few teams that could be interested in Griffin’s services include the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and Denver Nuggets.
These are all teams Griffin has personal ties to, either through past teammates or familiar scenery (in the case of Los Angeles).
Another team that could be intriguing for Griffin would be the Oklahoma City Thunder. He is from Oklahoma and was a member of the Sooners in college.
However, the elephant in the room is that the Thunder are likely not championship contenders right now. That said, they are a very young team and would benefit from a veteran leader like Griffin.
