3 Best Options to Fill the Celtics' Final Roster Spot
By Nick Galle
![Beloved by his former Celtics teammates, veteran Blake Griffin has been encouraged to return to Boston but has stated that he's enjoying life off the court. Beloved by his former Celtics teammates, veteran Blake Griffin has been encouraged to return to Boston but has stated that he's enjoying life off the court.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3677,h_2068,x_0,y_268/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/253/01hqrx0mty6eeega1zrw.jpg)
2. Blake Griffin
It can never hurt to bring in a veteran, especially one who has already spent time with the Celtics -- and one that everyone seems to love.
Griffin, 34, appeared in 41 games (16 starts) for Boston last season, averaging 4.1 points and 3.8 rebounds.
Joe Mazzulla was asked about his players recruiting Blake Griffin to come back: “When he told me at the end of last year that his family was the most important thing, I stopped talking to him about it because I know what it’s like to be away from your kids and away from your…
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) February 26, 2024
On an episode of "Pardon My Take," Derrick White and Payton Pritchard mentioned that they have been hounding Griffin to come back for what Pritchard called "one last ride."
PMT co-host Dan "Big Cat" Katz then facetimed Griffin, who said he was "just enjoying life right now." Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla also told reporters that he stopped trying to recruit Griffin when the 13-year NBA veteran mentioned that he was focusing on family.
3. Mike Muscala
Certainly a dark horse here, but Muscala is reportedly finalizing a buyout with the Detroit Pistons, making him eligible for the playoffs as a member of whichever team he decides to join next.
Like Griffin, Muscala also had a brief stint with the Celtics, appearing in 20 games (four starts) in 2022-23. He averaged 5.9 points and shot 38.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Keep an eye on the 76ers, Thunder, and Suns as three potential landing spots for Mike Muscala.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) February 28, 2024
All three teams have an open roster spot and would benefit from adding a big man who can space the floor. A reunion in OKC would be poetic for Muscala.
It's looking like the Thunder will be requesting Muscala's services, and that would also be a reunion, as the 32-year-old spent parts of four seasons with Oklahoma City.
Muscala was a small-scale trade-deadline acquisition by Boston back in 2023, and he never really carved out the role that many expected he would down the stretch. He ended up playing a total of 21 minutes in last season's playoffs, and he'd likely be just as small of a rotational piece this time around if the Celtics went and brought him back.
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