Just a couple of days into training camp, the Celtics are adding to their frontcourt. On Friday morning, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the team is signing veteran forward Blake Griffin to a fully-guaranteed one-year deal.
According to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, the deal will pay Griffin the league minimum. Himmelsbach added the signing comes after the Celtics attended Griffin’s workouts in Las Angeles.
More: Toucher & Rich at Celtics Media Day
By signing Griffin, the Celtics add much-needed veteran depth to their frontcourt following the news that starting center Robert Williams will likely miss the start of the season. Prior to adding Griffin, the Celtics’ top options to fill Williams’ role were either a small lineup with 6-foot-6 Grant Williams starting in his place, or go further down the bench to Luke Kornet, Bruno Caboclo, Noah Vonleh, or Mifondu Kabengele. Instead, Griffin gives the team an experienced and physical presence under the rim on both ends of the floor.
Griffin, 33, spent the majority of the last two seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, starting 34 of the 82 games he played while averaging 7.5 points and 4.3 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game. He entered the league as a first overall pick out of Oklahoma by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2009.
After missing his first season entirely due to a broken kneecap, Griffin was an All-Star his first five years in the league with four All-NBA seasons, before knee injuries seriously limited his availability. He was traded to the Detroit Pistons during the 2018 season, and was an All-Star the next year. After the 2021 trade deadline, he was bought out by the Pistons and signed with the Nets.
To make the Griffin signing official, the Celtics will need to open up a roster spot. They entered the day at the 20-player limit.
Blake Griffin career stats
Season Age Tm G GS MP FG% 3P% 2P% FT% TRB AST STL BLK PTS 2010-11 21 LAC 82 82 38.0 .506 .292 .510 .642 12.1 3.8 0.8 0.5 22.5 2011-12 22 LAC 66 66 36.2 .549 .125 .556 .521 10.9 3.2 0.8 0.7 20.7 2012-13 23 LAC 80 80 32.5 .538 .179 .548 .660 8.3 3.7 1.2 0.6 18.0 2013-14 24 LAC 80 80 35.8 .528 .273 .537 .715 9.5 3.9 1.2 0.6 24.1 2014-15 25 LAC 67 67 35.2 .502 .400 .504 .728 7.6 5.3 0.9 0.5 21.9 2015-16 26 LAC 35 35 33.4 .499 .333 .504 .727 8.4 4.9 0.8 0.5 21.4 2016-17 27 LAC 61 61 34.0 .493 .336 .514 .760 8.1 4.9 0.9 0.4 21.6 2017-18 28 TOT 58 58 34.0 .438 .345 .482 .785 7.4 5.8 0.7 0.3 21.4 2017-18 28 LAC 33 33 34.5 .441 .342 .488 .785 7.9 5.4 0.9 0.3 22.6 2017-18 28 DET 25 25 33.2 .433 .348 .473 .784 6.6 6.2 0.4 0.4 19.8 2018-19 29 DET 75 75 35.0 .462 .362 .525 .753 7.5 5.4 0.7 0.4 24.5 2019-20 30 DET 18 18 28.4 .352 .243 .439 .776 4.7 3.3 0.4 0.4 15.5 2020-21 31 TOT 46 30 25.8 .423 .341 .505 .744 4.9 3.0 0.7 0.3 11.0 2020-21 31 DET 20 20 31.3 .365 .315 .429 .710 5.2 3.9 0.7 0.1 12.3 2020-21 31 BRK 26 10 21.5 .492 .383 .574 .782 4.7 2.4 0.7 0.5 10.0 2021-22 32 BRK 56 24 17.1 .425 .262 .565 .724 4.1 1.9 0.5 0.3 6.4 Career 724 676 32.9 .493 .327 .521 .696 8.2 4.1 0.8 0.5 19.8 8 seasons LAC 504 504 35.1 .512 .316 .524 .680 9.3 4.2 1.0 0.5 21.6 4 seasons DET 138 138 33.3 .434 .339 .498 .756 6.7 5.0 0.6 0.3 20.7 2 seasons BRK 82 34 18.5 .450 .305 .569 .748 4.3 2.0 0.5 0.3 7.5 Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.
