Despite looking rejuvenated in Brooklyn down the stretch of the 2020/21 season, veteran forward Blake Griffin accepted another minimum-salary contract to return to the Nets, and said on Thursday that the decision was a “no-brainer,” as Brian Lewis of The New York Post relays.
“We as a team felt like we obviously didn’t accomplish what we wanted,” Griffin said. “You can say injuries, but every team had injuries. So we feel like there’s definitely unfinished business. There’s something bigger that we want to achieve, and I still want to be a part of that.”
Not all of the Nets’ key free agents returned – Jeff Green left for Denver – but Griffin wasn’t the only player to re-sign a team-friendly deal and make reference to unfinished business after falling short of a championship in 2021. Bruce Brown, who accepted his one-year, $4.7MM qualifying offer from Brooklyn, told GM Sean Marks that he felt “the job wasn’t done.”
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- Rich Hofmann of The Athletic takes a look at the Sixers‘ offseason, observing that the team has mostly taken a “run it back” approach so far, with Andre Drummond and Georges Niang filling the Dwight Howard and Mike Scott roles. Of course, the possibility of a Ben Simmons trade still looms large, but it’s unclear what such a deal might look like if the 76ers don’t get a chance to make a run at Damian Lillard.
- As Ian Begley of SNY.tv writes, as a result of all the multiyear contract commitments the Knicks made this offseason, the summer of 2022 projects to be the first offseason in a few years that the team won’t have maximum-salary cap space.
- Knicks forward Obi Toppin, a native New Yorker like Kemba Walker, grew up idolizing the point guard and can’t wait to play alongside him in 2021/22, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. “Having Kemba come to the team is amazing,” Toppin said. “Great player. I’ve watched him as long as he’s been playing since he left UConn. Having an opportunity to play with him is going to be amazing.”
- Dennis Schröder may not be a perfect on-court fit for the Celtics, but he’ll bring an element of speed and an ability to get to the rim that the team’s other point guards don’t have, and it’s hard to argue with the value of a one-year, $5.9MM deal, says Jay King of The Athletic.
Simmons will end up being a problem for the sixers all year until they trade him. The sixer GM will wreck them like he did with the rockets. All the GM needs to say is Simmons will not be traded but instead is showing no loyalty to Simmons.
Morey and Simmons’s agent are working together to look for trades. all indications suggest Simmons is on board with whatever happens.
Yes, a problem like last year that saw him be an all star, all defensive player and lead us to the one seed…terrible problems we have with Ben lol
the problem is not Simmons but Morey. Morey should have squashed the trade rumors when they first happened not play the fool and demand a package nobody is going to pay. Now Simmons feels he is unwanted and being blamed for sixers loss.
Wow…. why make this about Morey? Simmons has a professional responsibility to try and improve on his craft. He’s getting the money upfront as IF he’s going to turn the curve. Newsflash… nobody in the nba is being paid $30 + mil per for a guard with great defense and passing. Besides, Rich Paul went to the Sixers in an attempt to find a right team. That indicates Simmons wants out too. He may not have publicly demanded a trade but it seems he’d rather relocate then to address his shooting issues.
I assume you want more than to be the #1 seed right? The plan on how to nullify Simmons is out. Until he proves he’s able to overcome his issues then teams will keep playing him the same way thus rendering the team less capable during the playoffs.
That and he’s under contract. Not like he’s going to just retire. Winning his 5th rookie of the year this year plus all the other post season accolades should help rebuild his trade value.
Not sure what you meant with 5th ROY, but the guy wants out and any team would like him. This is how a player forces out.
Not everyone has to shoot deep.
How did Morey “wreck” the Rockets? By building a good team around Harden that choked when the game was on the line? He can’t MAKE the players perform.
Exactly, if the Rockets don’t miraculously miss 27 three pointers in a row against the Warriors, they’re polishing a championship trophy as we speak.
How isn’t Schroder a good fit in Boston? It’ll be nice to have a PG that wants to get out and run with Tatum, Brown, etc. Though I’m not expecting more than a 5 seed (at best), they’ll be fun to watch.
King makes the point in the article that a better outside shooter would’ve been a more ideal fit, given that Richardson and Smart are up-and-down shooters too.
I’m not big on Schroder but at the price you guys got him for it is a solid addition by any metric. Smart, Pritchard and Schroder give you some flexibility and depth at the point. I am not sure I expect Edwards to be a key piece so the Schroder move looks even better depending on what you expect from Edwards…
It’s hard to tell who it s better
Howard or Drummond?
Mike Scott or Niang?
Sullivan get glasses or squint.
Dwight is way better and Mike Scott/Niang is more defense/offense, with both guys being adequate on the other end, although Mike Scott is coming off a tough year offensively. You could probably argue that Philly is better off with the offense from Niang, with the defenders they have around him, and also Paul Reed there as another option at the 4/5
Hard to tell?
Drummond is a minor upgrade and younger than Dwight…not a real needle mover. The biggest bonus is not getting the dumb technicals every week by Dwight.
Niang is a clear upgrade over Scott (although this is not going to move the needle very far)…if you watched Scott the last year or 2 you would see this easily.
An added year of experience for Thybulle and Maxey and even the experience that garbage time minute guys like Reed and Joe move the needle slightly.
The sixers got marginally better…the down side is much of the East also improved this off-season
True but you’re underrating Reed; I realize he’s not an exciting operator, but he always has high metrics.
Oh you’ll get plenty of dumb with Drummond. Might as well take the R out of his last name. When he’s a foot from the rim and instead of dropping it through the cylinder decides to make it a lay up and miss…ugh. Nevermind the stone hands and dropped passes….but yeah he’s younger. That’s cool
Suns should of went after Griffin.
Nets are going to miss Green.
Kemba coming home should make for a fun season.
Celtics are better with Schroeder. But they still need a rim protector. I can’t believe they didn’t offer Drummond a salary. Minimum???? NoBrainer
So if Simmons doesn’t report to training camp. What’s Morey going to do then. I’m not a Morey guy. He’s been more lucky than good. He totally blew up (finished) Yao’s career. Then lucked out into Harden. Sixers have totally blown the whole Ben thing. He’s not a PG. No matter what he wants. And wherever he goes I bet he doesn’t play PG. Philly fans will never let him forget Hawks series. NBA fans will never let him forget Hawks series. He’s DONE in Philly. And Morey is clueless about that. Bens Gotta go.
Again…Andre Drummond is not, has never been, and never will be a rim protector
Back again. You just never learn do you. I know it’s hard to comprehend. This isn’t personal to me. I see you as uninformed. And a pest by now.
First the post doesn’t say he’s a rim protector. It says They should’ve of signed him. Celtics do t have a rim protector. And Drummond a true center atleast can provide some of that. Since Celtics don’t even have a true center on roster. He’s best defensive reb in the game. That’s part of protecting the paint. His size in right position also helps protect the paint. So as backup he can definitely give you real center mins. That includes blocking the paint. And therefore protecting the rim. It’s called doing it as a team. I never said he was the answer. I said at minimum its a nobrainer for the Celtics. Hes a a true center that they can definitely use.
Dude you should really try and be part of conversation. Instead of always trying to prove how much You DONT know. A healthy disagreement only helps to educate us both.
You’re the one that went out of your way a couple of days ago, and as often as you can. I’m just returning the favor, except without actually saying anything personal about you, which you struggle with. Boston also has multiple 5s, and on a team where ball movement was an issue last year, and spacing an issue at times, the last thing they need is a black hole
Like I said go educate yourself. I’m not here to educate you. And I don’t care what you think. I’m not here to argue over nothing. I’m making myself easier to understand. Since you just refuse to accept my views.
5 centers ….. yeah. You know you are right. I shouldn’t even bother with this knowledge.
@KnickerbockerAl for what it’s worth, I always enjoy reading what you have to say. I can tell you know a lot about the game and I agree with just about everything you say regarding the Celtics
loool
No offense bro. And I appreciate when I get respect. It’s sports, no one has all the answers. But if we care. We can all have an opinion.
formerlyz has been after this Bigs conversation. Since he tried to tell me about Mitch. And what a center means to Knicks. When he got hurt last yr. His feelings have been hurt since then. And obviously he still is not over it.
Seriously why wouldn’t Celtics sign him to minimum. They almost got him last yr for 27 mill trade exception. He’s better than any big they got. They carried Tako for 3 yrs. imo Drummond makes them a contender. And I would tell that to Stevens face.
I didnt say anything about Mitchell Robinson. Now you’re just making more trash up. You claimed none of Noel, Taj Gibson, Randle and Toppin can play at the 5. I said all of them can, and do, and their record with those guys was better, which literally shows those guys playing at the 5, which you dodnt want, works just fine while Robinson is put, and therefore they didnt need to add someone there. You also are constantly sh!++!*& on people…but think whatever you want. I’m not going to stop you. I’m just saying Andre Dummond doesnt do any of the things you think he does, no matter how often you want to claim it
That was trash talking AL, modern term gaslighting. You say Celtics need a rim protector then go on about Drummond, a center. Next post, you start by saying you did not mean Drummond. Then, you justify saying Drummond by saying one thing (paint presence) means another (rim protection). So which is it? And why don’t you say paint presence if that is what you meant.
I assume you didn’t mean Drummond should play with another inefficient center— which is even stupider and less IRL.
You like the idea of Drummond but would eventually curse having to root for him like every other once-hopeful. When will you learn from others?— you refuse so are less educated. Everyone else has stepped off the Drummond bandwagon. He just waves, a step too slow, like rookie Ayton. Let him go, round up some ballplayers for a team.
AL you award qualities centers are supposed to have whether they have them or not. formerlyz of course would replace all positions with wings, everyone the same height, like the Bulls ’98, who had Jordan, but needed more wing pieces, because.
Well at least we’re reliable.
At the end Simmons for CJ + filler
Nah, sixers walk away from that one…not really sure I would trade Tobias for CJ, but I would at least come to the table. They ain’t giving Ben away that cheap despite the fans and media ripping him. The league knows his value, and it is above CJ level
Your Ben is not coming back. How many red flags does he have to waive? The 6ers will take what they can get.
I like how you and others keep repeating “the sixers will take what they can get” Ben is under contract for a while. No they won’t. Daryl will take the right deal, not what he can get.
I would trade Harris for CJ, but not Ben.
There’s unlikely to be any max players available as UFAs next summer. I doubt Harden or KI get past this off season without being extended. Slight possibilities would be Beal and LaVine (if he even is a max guy); but each is still far more likely to move by trade than get to the FA market.