'Never say never' about Boston Celtics bringing back five-time All-NBA big

NBC Sports' Kurt Helin left the door open a crack for the Boston Celtics to bring back popular 2022-23 locker-room presence Blake Griffin, claiming that you should "never say never" when it comes to the team re-signing him.

"...it has to be difficult to turn down one more playoff run with a team that is the current favorite to win it all," Helin prefaced before saying, "Boston has an open roster spot but is already into the second tax apron ($18.3 million above the luxury tax line), so that minimum contract will hit harder. If the Celtics are open to it, would Griffin be?

"It sounds like a firm no, but never say never around the NBA."

Blake Griffin unlikely to return to Boston Celtics after trading for Xavier Tillman

MassLive's Brian Robb believes that the front office's decision to trade for Memphis Grizzlies big man Xavier Tillman will likely preclude the Cs from signing Griffin.

"Technically, the Celtics still have an open roster spot available so the door likely remains open for Griffin if he has a change of heart," Robb prefaced before saying, "However, the acquisition of Tillman likely signals that the team does not anticipate Griffin returning this year for one more run."

The Houdini is going to have to agree with Robb here. While adding Griffin would do wonders for the morale of guys like Payton Pritchard and Derrick White, who went on Pardon My Take and advocated for his return, there's a chance of negative side effects for guys like Tillman and Luke Kornet, who'd suddenly have their chances of finding the floor during the playoffs plummet.

Like bringing back Isaiah Thomas, a Griffin reunion may be better in theory than in execution. Falling short in the postseason could theoretically change that, but it appears as though there's no need to fix what isn't broken.