Blake Griffin (Photo : The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics failed to close a blockbuster deal at the 2016 NBA Draft but that does not mean they have already thrown in the towel.
They are hoping that developments in free agency could sway them back into the conversation. In the meantime, they are reportedly pursuing Dwight Howard, according to an ESPN report from Marc Stein and Chris Broussard.
The Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics are the first known teams to secure face-to-face recruiting meetings with free-agent big man Dwight Howard, according to league sources," the report stated. "Sources told ESPN that Howard, 30, is likely to meet with as many as five teams in free agency, with a return to the Houston Rockets widely seen as unlikely after Howard declined his $23.2 million player option for next season."
As the Celtics try to address their need for a defensive big man, they can focus on getting a superstar for offense. Since they got Howard via free agency, the Celtics can then use their vaunted treasure chest of assets to make a trade. Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer proposed that the Celtics pursue Blake Griffin.
In his proposal, the Celtics will send Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder and Kelly Olynyk in exchange for Blake Griffin. The Clippers will relish the new depth as they now have a defensive duo in Bradley and Crowder. They have recently experimented on smaller, faster lineups last season when Blake was injured. This trade could help them implement that full time.
For the Celtics, they need a first option, go-to scorer as a team can't be a contender if their best player is Isaiah Thomas. Griffin knows how to play with a defensive center as he had DeAndre Jordan with the Clippers. With a deeper, younger supporting cast and probably more touches, Griffin could return to the MVP conversation.
There are still lingering talks that the Celtics have not let up on pursuing Jimmy Butler. According to a previous report, the asset that the Chicago Bulls wanted the rights to swap picks with the Brooklyn Nets in 2017, with a deeper, potentially star-studded draft.
The Celtics were reluctant to part with the pick but if they sign Dwight Howard, they would need to pair him with an offensive star. It would be costly but this is a chance to contend now with Butler and Howard, and the Celtics might pull the trigger.
