Celtics called about Griffin

[kozlodoev]

According to the Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett, the Celtics have been one of a number of teams to call the Clippers about Blake Griffin. But, Bulpett adds while the Clippers are listening, they have no real intention of moving him.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge spoke with Bulpett about the team’s goals as Thursday’s deadline approaches. It appears the Celtics are looking at the big picture.

“When I’€™m looking at players out there, I’€™m looking at players that can make a big difference,” Ainge said to Bulpett. “Not players that can win us two games or anything like that. That’€™s not my objective.

“€œOur objective is not to keep us in the No. 3 seed in the East and maybe move up a bit, other than that’€™s our players’€™ objective and that’€™s our coaches’€™ objective. I think those are amazing goals, and it’€™s been fun watching this team compete and beating some of the good teams along the way. But our objective is to put together a team that can compete for championships.

“Listen, we’€™re just a few games from being at seven or eight, and it wasn’€™t too long ago that we were the ninth seed in the East. So, no, I don’€™t pay that much attention to the standings. I look more at how we’€™re playing and where our holes are and what we need to do.”

http://greenstreet.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/2016/02/16/report-celtics-called-clippers-about-blake-griffin/

[rondohondo]

saw this too

“We’re listening to teams that call and ask us, whatever assets we may have. There are players we would trade the Brooklyn pick for, and many players that we wouldn’t.”
– via Boston Globe

 

“An hour before we made the trade for Isaiah, I would have told you I didn’t think we could get him,” Ainge said. “We’d made an offer, and it wasn’t an offer that was good enough. “We wanted to get Isaiah, but we wanted to do a deal we felt comfortable with. We weren’t going to do a deal that we weren’t comfortable with. So it looked like there was no deal.”
– via Boston Globe

[Donoghus]

I'd be more concerned if Ainge hadn't called the Clippers about Griffin.

You want your GM doing his due diligence.

[esel1000]

I'd be more concerned if Ainge hadn't called the Clippers about Griffin.

You want your GM doing his due diligence.

This. A good GM leaves no stone unturned. This is one of the few guys you give up the Nets pick for, though it'd have to be a 3 team deal because the Clips definitely don't want a lotto pick

[ahonui06]

I'd be more concerned if Ainge hadn't called the Clippers about Griffin.

You want your GM doing his due diligence.

This. A good GM leaves no stone unturned. This is one of the few guys you give up the Nets pick for, though it'd have to be a 3 team deal because the Clips definitely don't want a lotto pick

Precisely. It's always smart to conduct due diligence, especially communicating with an awful GM such as Doc Rivers.

[aefgogreen]

The fact that our main asset is draft picks works in our favor too.  If rumor gets out that we offered one and were turned down, no one would be offended (on our end).  Now if rumors got out about us trading an actual player, then it becomes a distraction if the trade doesn't go through.  Ainge can afford to freely explore opportunities.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

The fact that our main asset is draft picks works in our favor too.  If rumor gets out that we offered one and were turned down, no one would be offended (on our end).  Now if rumors got out about us trading an actual player, then it becomes a distraction if the trade doesn't go through.  Ainge can afford to freely explore opportunities.

TP for making an excellent point.

[walker834]

 I don't want Blake.   The guy is on steroids and another dunk machine that is overrated otherwise.  Plus Felger wants him which is an automatic no for me.

[MichaelJ]

Id really like Ainge to trade for a star, it could increase our chances of landing Durant.  Signing Durant gives the C's two star players while only spending the assets for one.  Whether it's Blake or someone else I think Danny needs to show the league we're ready to be a serious contender again.  I'm glad he made the call.  It also sounds like he believes there may be room for a deal even though the initial response was negative.

[PhoSita]

How many years left on Blake's deal?  Doesn't he have a player option in 2017?

Blake strikes me as a big market guy.  If the Celts were to trade for him, I have a feeling he wouldn't stick around unless they added at least one more big name next to him in the following year or so.


I think Blake's reached a point where he's underrated.  He's an automatic 20-10 guy who has expanded his skillset over time.  If he's used properly and his minutes are managed, I think he'll be valuable and productive for a long time to come.  I'm just not super confident that he'd actually want to stay here even if we traded for him.

[D Dub]

How many years left on Blake's deal?  Doesn't he have a player option in 2017?

Blake strikes me as a big market guy.  If the Celts were to trade for him, I have a feeling he wouldn't stick around unless they added at least one more big name next to him in the following year or so.


I think Blake's reached a point where he's underrated.  He's an automatic 20-10 guy who has expanded his skillset over time.  If he's used properly and his minutes are managed, I think he'll be valuable and productive for a long time to come.  I'm just not super confident that he'd actually want to stay here even if we traded for him.

From what I'm hearing on the LA side of things, Boston is viewed as a big market and one Blake would be amenable to staying in.  Especially considering the quality of coaching/front ofcice and opportunity to have system tailored to him in a win-now environment. 

Even though he's in LA, the Clips are still the jv team.  Boston would be a bigger market, and has long been one of the top 5 in the league. 

[yagru]

I don't want Blake.   The guy is on steroids and another dunk machine that is overrated otherwise.  Plus Felger wants him which is an automatic no for me.

W*T*F? do you watch him play at all? He has to be one of the most improved players imo. He now has a solid midrange and back to the basket game. Blake is a great player.