Clippers: Why Celtics will be interested in Blake Griffin trade
By Tom West
Griffin’s age and prime coincides with the Celtics’ future
The Celtics took a jump towards competing now with Al Horford. They wanted Kevin Durant, so it’s clear Danny Ainge isn’t just going to sit back and wait a few years for all his draft picks to grow in order to see how far the team can make it in the playoffs. He wants stars.
That being said, the Celtics aren’t a title contender just yet. That’s not discounting the talent they have or underrating the signing of Horford, it’s merely the case for every team in the East outside of Cleveland right now. Thomas and Horford leading the way as the team’s star duo simply isn’t enough.
Whether or not Boston’s 2016 3rd overall pick Jaylen Brown can develop and become an impact two-way player is yet to be seen, not to be mention some of their later selections such as Guerschon Yabusele (aka “French Draymond”) or Demetrius Jackson.
There’s a lot of youth that Brad Stevens has to work with in the future, but he’ll be waiting on them to develop right now, and a year or two down the line could really be the team’s sweet spot when it comes to making a genuine push for winning the Eastern Conference.
Trading for Blake Griffin would jolt them forward in that pursuit of escaping the East, possibly even as high as the No. 2 seed. But in his prime at 27 years old, he can grow with these Celtics in a way that a 30-year-old Horford can’t. After some of those young guys are ready to genuinely contribute, Horford will be nearing his mid thirties and Griffin can still be the athletic powerhouse in the latter years of his prime leading the charge.
As great as Horford can be in Boston, Griffin could be more valuable, especially in the years to come.
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