Blake Griffin arrives in Boston ready for 'whatever role I'm needed for'

Trying to find Blake Griffin in Boston since reports of him agreeing to a deal last week was a little bit like trying to find Bigfoot. Every time someone asked Joe Mazzulla about Griffin, he didn’t know anything. He was supposedly in the building for last night’s game, but no one saw him around. 

Then today, at practice, he emerged. The first footage of him was at a distance and a bit grainy…

But then, finally, Griffin made his way over. 

“I got in yesterday and saw some guys yesterday. Obviously I was here all of practice today,” explained the newest Celtic, freshly signed to a one-year guaranteed deal. “It’s a different atmosphere than I was sort of used to, in a good way. They’re very welcoming and everybody, 1 through 15 or however many guys are here, in practice was focused, very encouraging, helpful and you kind of take that for granted because it’s not always the case everywhere you go.”

Let’s be honest here. If this guy’s name was Bill Somethingorother there would hardly be any anticipation about where he was or whether he’d speak to the media. But because he’s the “jump over the Kia” guy who, not too long ago, was one of the league’s most marketable superstars, people are intrigued.     

"He's got great experience, played alongside great players, great coaches,” Mazzulla said, now finally able to say something on the record about the addition. “Great basketball mind. He's a big body for us that can help us do things on both ends of the floor."

He is big, that's for sure. The sasquatch comparison is apt, at least in general stature, which is a plus for a team that could use another guy who can reach the cans on the top shelf. If the rebounding issues we saw against Charlotte are real, then a large human who understands basketball will be very welcome until all the other big men are healthy. 

“I’ll be ready for whatever role they need,” Griffin said, adding that he’s ready to go in the preseason to get some reps in if the team needs. “Obviously, when (Robert Williams) comes back, he’s a monster and he’s the anchor of their team. Defensively, especially. So whatever role I’m used for now, whatever role I’m needed for later, I’ll be ready.”

The key for Griffin isn’t to just be ready to play, it’s to be ready to not play as well. The Celtics might need him a lot more now than they will later on, and depending on how Luke Kornet holds up, his minutes might dry up completely when the calendar flips. Until then, the Celtics will probably find some minutes for him to do whatever he does well in a more limited role. 

“I think that’s just part of understanding who you are and where you are in your career,” Griffin said. “I think there’s an opportunity here and the biggest thing for me is playing meaningful basketball, playing basketball in the playoffs and also being part of a good group. I think this place checks that list.”

Griffin does have some value to add to the product on the floor if he’s used the right way. He does understand ball movement and in short bursts, he can be part of a productive offense that plays with pace. He can set picks, roll to the basket, or pop out to the 3-point line. We’ll see if he can get his shooting percentages back up to acceptable levels after a significant dip last year, but there is some hope that he can be productive offensively even though his athleticism is gone. 

“I think it’s funny. When I was younger everybody complained about how all I did was dunk and now people are like ‘I wish he would do what he used to do,’” Griffin said with a laugh. “I’m like you guys complained for years about how I couldn't shoot and now I shoot. But it’s a lesson that you’re never going to please everybody, so as long as you keep moving forward, you’ll be alright.”

Defensively, it’s more about positioning with Griffin. He’s not going to be able to switch onto guards, but he’ll hold his own against bigger guys. His ability to take charges already piqued Marcus Smart’s interests in a charges-drawn competition which would also include notorious body-sacrificer Derrick White. Griffin is on board.

“He got rewarded for it last year but he probably should have gotten rewarded for it in previous years, the Defensive Player of the Year,” Griffin said. “I love guys like that. I’m willing to do that as well. And hopefully we can lead the league in charges this year.”

It’s an interesting situation for Griffin as he chases the elusive championship. He marveled at the professionalism of the Celtics organization and how it differed from other situations he’s been in. The opportunity the team provided actually led to a change in plans for Griffin, who was content to survey the NBA landscape for a bit before choosing a destination. 

“I intentionally just kind of stepped back, enjoyed time with my kids,” He said. “My plan was to kind of wait until after training camp and see, but like I said, when an opportunity like this comes along, you take it.” 

OTHER PRACTICE NOTES

- Mfiondu Kabengele spent significant time on the floor after practice running through pick-and-rolls with Jaylen Brown. 

“It's a testament to our older guys who want to bring younger guys along, which is good,” Mazzulla said. “Then for Fi, he wants to learn and he has great energy. I think anybody that has that has a chance to have a role in this league.”

Brown spent a lot of time in between plays talking to Kabengele about angles and how and where to set the picks. He also was giving tips on how to read the defender, so Kabengele could recognize on dribble handoffs or pitch-backs when Brown might decide to cut instead. 

Kabengele has been picking Al Horford’s brain as well, but mostly about the defensive side of the ball. 

“I can ask him any questions, smart questions, dumb questions, he’ll answer it. So he's been really helpful since I’ve been here,” Kabengele said. “Most of the questions I ask involves the pick and roll coverages. Sometimes I have a hard time gauging where I should be at, I'm playing cat and mouse with the ball handler, and figuring out how I should guard it. And Al gives me good tips on how to angle it properly, especially with different personnel and stuff. So he's been really helpful.”

Kabengele is extraordinarily likable, and he has a strong desire to learn the game. The Celtics think they can bring him along, and with tutelage like this along with the coaching and individual work, he might have a chance to surprise people. 

- Luke Kornet is progressing well

Kornet took the floor after most of the rest of the team left so he could test his sprained left ankle. He did mostly light work, and he had a compression sock on his left leg, presumably to help with the circulation to the injured ankle. 

It's unclear when he'll return.