Boston Celtics: Steve Bulpett would’ve preferred 8x All-Star to Blake Griffin

The Boston Celtics made one of the more surprising September signings in recent memory by inking Blake Griffin to a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract as first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. 

Griffin hadn’t been talked about as a potential addition — instead, it was Carmelo Anthony that was heavily linked to the Celtics in early September following Danilo Gallinari’s ACL tear during FIBA competition abroad.

In terms of big men that had been discussed, MassLive’s Brian Robb had recently debunked the idea that the Cs would go for Dwight Howard, DeMarcus Cousins, or LaMarcus Aldridge due to the presence of Luke Kornet. Of course, Kornet’s ankle sprain opened up the opportunity for Griffin to sign on with Boston.

If you ask Heavy’s Steve Bulpett, which a reader did in his most recent Celtics Mailbag, he would have preferred the 8x All-Star Howard over Griffin for defensive purposes:

"“If they were looking to add someone bigger, Howard would probably be my choice. But perhaps Brad Stevens is comfortable with what they have or wants to get a better look at those people in reserve. But waiting runs the risk of the guy they want not being there if they eventually decide they need someone else.”"

Neither Blake Griffin nor Dwight Howard would have played much in the postseason for the Boston Celtics

While a Dwight Howard signing would have been the least disruptive if Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla wanted to maintain the status quo without Robert Williams in his starting five, neither he nor Blake Griffin was looking at much postseason playing time with a healthy Cs rotation.

It’s clear that Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens has high hopes for Luke Kornet, and without his injury, Griffin may never end up up on the Cs. When he returns, he may end the conversation for who will be the first big off the bench.

And when ‘The Timelord’ returns, Grant Williams could end up keeping Kornet glued to the pine himself.