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Clippers: Why Celtics will be interested in Blake Griffin trade

By Tom West

Dec 7, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Clippers defeated the Timberwolves 110-106. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Clippers defeated the Timberwolves 110-106. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 26, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) high fives forward Jae Crowder (99) during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) high fives forward Jae Crowder (99) during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

The Celtics have trade assets to use, so why not?

Can the Celtics land Blake Griffin? It all comes down to whether Doc Rivers and the Clippers will consider letting him go, and as of right now, that still doesn’t seem likely. However, if there’s a team with some assets to throw around, it’s the Celtics.

All-Defensive First Team Avery Bradley has obvious appeal for his exceptional defense and sound shooting to bolster the backcourt outside of Chris Paul and Austin Rivers (even if Bradley plays large minutes off the bench) and Jae Crowder would be a clear upgrade at small forward. He’s a strong, versatile defender, capable of guarding multiple positions and holding his own against power forwards in the post, and unlike Luc Mbah a Moute, he can operate from three-point range (122 made threes at a passable 33.6 percent rate last season).

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While it would clearly take more than Bradley and Crowder to tempt Doc to part with Griffin — Amir Johnson could be included to fill the hole at power forward — such players would provide upgrades on the wing, although pieces would need to be sent away from the Clippers along with Blake to create the roster space and avoid crowded rotations.

And at that point, the Clippers really aren’t getting enough to warrant trading their perennial All-Star.

The problem for Ainge is that having young talent like Jaylen Brown and more high future draft picks won’t interest the Clippers. They’re still fully committed to win-now mode and if they intend to re-sign Paul next summer when he has the option to test free agency (why would they want him to go, anyway?), young assets won’t do any favors when it comes to selling him on the Clippers’ future to contend.

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Until we hear anything serious about a trade, it seems safe to say the Clippers are holding onto Griffin, no matter how much he can help the Celtics. A potential deal isn’t going to work both ways in this speculated scenario.

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