As reported by HoopsWire's Sam Amiko, the Golden State Warriors have shown interest in signing forward Blake Griffin on free agency.
Griffin spent the second half of his season with the Celtics last season after signing a one-year free-agent base-salary contract. He started 16 games for Boston when Al Horford or Robert Williams were out, but he was not trusted by coach Joe Mazura , averaging 4.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 13.9 minutes in 41 games.
During Boston's reach to the Eastern Conference Finals, Griffin also made only one substitute appearance, playing a total of six minutes. This marks the second time in a row that he has played the role of bench player for a championship-hoping team in the playoffs, after having had quite a great time with the Brooklyn Nets in the 2021-2022 season.
Griffin was a six-time All-Star and finished third in the 2014 MVP vote, nearly a decade after his peak with the Los Angeles Clippers. He was named to the All-Star and NBA All-NBA teams for the last time in 2018-2019, and as his athleticism waned after the shot, it seemed that the dunk king was gone. A knee injury in his first-round loss to the Milwaukee Bucks two seasons ago exacerbated Griffin's health problems, and he has since ceased to be a peak All-Star.
The Golden State Warriors currently have 13 players on guaranteed contracts for the 2023-24 season. The team plans to recruit another player to save owner Joe Lacob millions in luxury taxes, and G-League Lester Quinones and Jerome Robinson are also vying for the Warriors' 14th roster spot, and they have signed a deal to allow them to compete for play at training camp on Oct. 2.
Griffin is likely to compete with second-round rookie Tres Jackson-Davis as the Warriors' fourth center option after Draymond Green, Kevin Rooney and Dario Saric, playing a role in Steve Kerr's regular rotation.
Griffin's basketball experience, passing ability and long-range shooting ability make him a Warriors center candidate, especially given his experience and energy for the locker room, and with veteran teammate Paul coming to the Warriors, whether he can recreate the "City of Empty Connections" is the thing that veteran Clippers fans are most looking forward to.
Griffin recently called his experience with the Celtics "incredible" and Boston reportedly still interested in re-signing him, while the Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers are also interested in the one-time star player, so the Warriors are not secure and they have to put in more effort to get Griffin.
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