The Boston Celtics know they have to do something to challenge the reigning NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference this coming season. They won 48 games last season and the Celtics improved this offseason by signing star big man Al Horford to a four-year, $113 million deal. But they need one more superstar to elevate their team to the next level and there are already rumors swirling about the Celtics trading for Russell Westbrook or Blake Griffin.
Both players would work great with Boston’s core of players that includes Horford, Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart and incoming rookie Jaylen Brown. But in my opinion Griffin is by far the better fit for the Celtics. First off, Griffin is a skilled ball handler for his position and he has the strength to muscle opponents in the post. He can also create off the dribble from the high post. Lastly, Blake doesn’t need the ball in his hands the whole game to create. Now, bring in Westbrook, he is most dangerous when he is aggressive toward the rim with the ball in his hands. We haven’t seen him coming off a double screen and then hitting a jump shot over someone in the league. I know he is a point guard and usually point guards don’t do that at all and Blake doesn’t do that either. Westbrook is a one of the best playmakers in the league when the ball is in his hands. If the Celtics do bring in Westbrook, now the Celtics become his team and he needs to have the ball in his hands for the majority of the offense. Plus, I think it takes away a lot from the other guards on the Celtics.
Bringing Horford on board certainly improves the Celtics down low in the paint but having Blake down there also takes some of that pressure off of each other. Both are great passers who can pass it out to these young guards that the Celtics have. Both these guys don’t plug the paint up because they can hit an outside jump shot and we have seen Horford even shoot three pointers too.
The biggest part of them all is both Russell Westbrook and Blake Griffin will likely be free agents next offseason. I personal think you can get Blake to resign right away than Russell Westbrook. With the money flying around in free agency for marginal NBA players, the stars in next years free agency class will definitely want to cash in and start the clock on their next big contract. Plus, having Griffin and Horford on board for seasons to come is great name recognition when looking for free agents in next years offseason to bring in. The Celtics getting Blake Griffin to resign now is a lot more valuable than hanging onto draft picks that may not ever be as valuable as Blake Griffin is now.