The Boston Celtics have crossed off a few critical boxes listed on their offseason agenda.
For now, the Celtics have an established star core of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis along with Derrick White, who head coach Joe Mazzulla
prematurely named as the starting point guard. That’s all been established. But there’s still one name sitting in free agency that’s been swept under the carpet a bit,
despite Boston’s rumored interest in bringing him back next season.
“The Celtics, league sources say, have interest in re-signing Blake Griffin,” Stein wrote Monday. “Less clear is Griffin’s stance, at 34, on returning to Boston for a 15th
season. Griffin signed with the Celtics in early October after training camp had already begun and appeared in just one playoff game after playing in 41 regular-
season games.”
Griffin, a six-time NBA All-Star, didn’t get a whole lot of playing time off Boston’s bench last season, averaging a career-low 13.9 minutes per game — which could
play a factor in the 34-year-old’s ultimate free agency decision.
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The C’s also enhanced their depth this offseason, signing Oshae Brissett, Dalano Banton and drafting Jordan Walsh. But they’ve also lost a few key members from
last season’s team such as Marcus Smart and Grant Williams, which could be playing into Boston’s reported interest in keeping Griffin on board.
Griffin averaged 4.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 45.8% from the field last season. His best performance in Celtics green came on Feb. 2
against the Philadelphia 76ers when Griffin scored 15 points and connected on 5-of-8 shot attempts from beyond the arc.
It’s unlikely that a bidding war will keep the Celtics from keeping Griffin in Boston considering his value didn’t exactly rise since his last stop in the free agency market. Yet, with a still relatively young Celtics team in place, it wouldn’t hurt to have a playoff-experienced veteran on board and in the locker room.
Griffin and the Celtics agreed on a one-year, $2.9 million deal last offseason.
read next:
Weighing Whether Celtics Should Sign Kelly Oubre
The Celtics have two full-time roster spots open, and they’re $4.2 million below the second apron, per Spotrac. Boston’s required to fill at least one of those
vacancies, and there are still plenty of intriguing options in free agency, plus players who could become available by the end of the preseason. One of the
accomplished veterans who remains unsigned is Kelly Oubre.
The former 15th overall pick spent the last two years with the Hornets. Last season, he averaged 20.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 32.3 minutes in 48
games. The drawback is he’s not a particularly effective three-point shooter, making him a questionable fit in Joe Mazzulla’s offense, which, even by the standards of
today’s NBA, puts a premium on that ability and the floor spacing it provides.
For his career, the former Kansas Jayhawk star has hoisted 4.7 shots from beyond the arc per contest, converting them at a 33 percent clip, which is below league
average. While Oubre launched 7.3 threes in 2021-22 and knocked down 34.5 percent, he made only 31.9 percent of the 7.1 he attempted last season.
However, according to NBA.com, he drilled 38.3 percent of the 2.2 corner threes he took, suggesting he could prove more effective by mostly spotting up there and
limiting his attempts from above the break. The six-foot-seven forward is a more skilled slasher than a shooter, and he does well finishing at the rim, evidenced by
his converting on 60.4 percent of his 250 total attempts in the restricted area in 2022-23, per NBA.com. Oubre also utilizes his size and seven-foot-two wingspan to
operate effectively as a versatile on-ball and impactful help defender who can stay in front of drivers, disrupt passing lanes, and dislodge the ball when stunting or
digging down to the low post. Oubre, who has one of the NBA’s best nicknames, Tsunami Papi, turns 28 in December, meaning the Celtics would be adding a player
in his prime.
He’s talented enough to earn more minutes than Oshae Brissett, who’s also not known for his shooting, making 34.4 percent of his 2.8 attempts for his career. Like
the latter, he’d bring grit and energy off the bench, something Boston will need even more after losing starting point guard Marcus Smart and Grant Williams this
offseason. Signing Oubre would also make it less likely Boston’s relying on 19-year-old Jordan Walsh if there’s an injury in the front court.
While the rookie offers plenty of promise, especially on defense, he’s early in his development and needs to add muscle. And while Oubre made $12.6 million with
the Hornets last season, and there are teams capable of offering him the mid-level exception, if Mazzulla’s on board with how he’d fit with the Celtics and the former
enticed by his opportunity for minutes on a championship contender, Boston could sign the eight-year veteran for the minimum or offer a bit more while staying
under the second apron, utilizing a chunk of the $5 million taxpayer mid-level exception.
While not the cleanest fit in Mazzulla’s offense, if he’s open to the role he’d have off the bench in Boston, as a productive and versatile two-way forward, Oubre could
prove a helpful addition to the Celtics’ pursuit of Banner 18.
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