Would you prefer the Celtics sign Gordon Hayward or Blake Griffin?
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Are we sure the Celtics should sign Gordon Hayward instead of Blake Griffin? Doesn’t Hayward block the progress of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown? I know he’s more durable, but I’m not convinced he’s a better fit. Convince me. – Dan R.
I would if I were convinced myself. To me, Griffin looks like a heck of Plan B if Hayward remains in Utah (has he even opted out yet) or gets lured to Miami by Pat Riley’s bag o’ rings.
Hayward still seems like the better Celtics option to me – in tandem with a Paul George trade, of course – even though a Horford/George/Hayward front line might initially cause some playing time issues for the younger guys, presuming neither Tatum nor Brown is dealt.
But Brad Stevens – he who played a four-guard offense against the Wizards – will figure it out. We myopic fans and media might see it as a talent log jam. He’ll see it as appealing options for some creative lineups. He’s good like that.
I do like the idea of Griffin playing alongside Horford and having two bigs who are tremendous passers. And he’d help the rebounding to some degree. But health is the real separator between Griffin and Hayward. Griffin has played just 96 games total over the last two regular seasons and it’s hard to figure he’s going to get more durable as he ages given the significance of his injuries. Hayward has missed just 11 games over the same span.
The Celtics would be counting on Hayward or Griffin for a lot. They would become an instant contender if either arrives here in tandem with George. But Hayward should be the preference in large part because he can be counted on.
What do you guys think? Would you prefer Hayward or Griffin? I’ll see you in the comments.
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