Celtics Plug Forward Hole By Signing Ex-NBA Rookie Of The Year Griffin

The Boston Celtics need to address their forward position deficiency and it appears they have done just that.

According to sources in a report by ESPN, the Celtics have come to terms with six-time All-Star Blake Griffin on a one-year fully guaranteed contract.

This should provide interim head coach Joe Mazzulla some breathing room with Danilo Gallinari and Robert Williams III missing for the early part of the 2022-23 NBA season.

The Griffin signing means that the Celtics now have 11 fully guaranteed contracts for the coming NBA season. This does not include the “mostly” guaranteed deal of Al Horford.

The Celtics entered training camp with Noah Vonleh, Denzel Valentine, Justin Jackson and Jake Layman all competing for a roster spot. Luke Kornet is also around and someone is expected to make the team.

As for Griffin, it will be interesting if he can keep himself healthy. The top pick of the 2009 NBA Draft has had stints with the Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons and the Brooklyn Nets.

However, the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk champion has had his share of injuries in the past years.

Last NBA season, the 33-year-old burly forward averaged 6.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists in only 17.1 minutes of action with the Nets where he spent two seasons.

Griffin’s stock has been fading through the years although he somehow showed glimpses of that with the Detroit Pistons before moving to Brooklyn.

In four seasons with the Pistons, Griffin averaged 20.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and five assists in 138 games. It remains to be seen if he can recall his old firm and give the Celtics the boost it needs to make a return trip to the NBA Finals.

Griffin was removed from the Nets' starting lineup last season in favor of LaMarcus Aldridge. The only highlight he had was when he scored 19 points in a 124-104 loss to the Denver Nuggets last February.