Apr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Blake Griffin (2) controls the ball against Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (12) during the second quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
NBA Free Agent Grades: Blake Griffin signs a 1-year, Fully-Guaranteed Contract with the Boston Celtics for an undisclosed amount.
Signing Grading: B (until signing number is disclosed)
It’s not unfair to assume Blake Griffin signed the contract for the minimum considering his age and level of demand around the league these days. Most fans probably didn’t even know he was a free agent, but the Nets, even with their lack of depth among bigs, had no urgency whatsoever to try and re-up on the 12-year veteran.
Griffin, who averaged 6.4 PPG and 4.1 RPG on an underwhelming 51.8 TS% last season, is likely being signed to the Celtics as insurance after the Danilo Gallinari injury. Once Gallinari was ruled out for the entirety of the upcoming season due to an ACL tear, the Celtics had a few lower-end options as his replacements to maintain the depth in their roster as one of the best in the league. Blake Griffin supplies a lot of what Danilo Gallinari offers at a dieted level. After an extended career of lower leg injuries, Griffin is lower to the ground much like Gallinari.
A secondary playmaker who can play as a small-ball center, Griffin doesn’t stray far from Gallinari’s primary skills, except when it comes to shooting. Griffin shot just 26.2% from beyond the arc last season, so defenders have little reason to try and defend him from afar.
It’s interesting the Celtics chose Blake Griffin over the other notable option Carmelo Anthony, but it’s likely due to Griffin being the slightly better defender and playmaking. This is not to say Blake Griffin is a good defender, but being a bad defender still tops being a horrible one.
