The Brooklyn Nets have continued adding to their star-laden roster in recent weeks, as buyout pickup Blake Griffin was added to the squad after he and the rebuilding Detroit Pistons parted ways. Griffin’s Nets debut has been delayed, as an injury and the need to ramp up his physical workload have sidelined him.
Griffin, who will play a complementary role alongside the star trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving, is expected to make his Nets debut Sunday night against Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards, a team that has had Brooklyn’s number this year.
The Nets will likely start off Griffin as a reserve, as Adrian Wojnarowski reported when they signed him that the six-time All-Star and Los Angeles Clippers legend is viewed by Brooklyn as a small-ball center off of the bench.
Against a Washington defense that is still one of the league’s worst, will Griffin get an opportunity to put his poor start in Detroit behind him and show the skills he can add to this Brooklyn team?
Blake Griffin will likely make his debut with the Brookyln Nets on Sunday against the Wizards. The team has upgraded him to probable on their injury report.
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) March 20, 2021
Blake Griffin could be a quality offensive big man for the Brooklyn Nets
Griffin, who might start taking away some of Jeff Green’s minutes, shot just 36% from the floor with the Pistons, and the fact he hasn’t dunked in years despite his previous status as the game’s best dunker is a bit concerning. Throw in the bad defense, and Griffin is a major wild card.
However, Washington has one of the worst interior defenses in the league, giving Griffin the perfect opponent to test his mettle against. Griffin can rise up from 3-point range uncontested and use what post moves remain to get some easy buckets.
The Nets are not a great defensive team, and they know that signing Griffin is not going to help them in that department. Brooklyn is asking for some shooting and size on the inside, and Griffin, even on his worst days, can provide that. With Thomas Bryant out and Rui Hachimura still working on defense, Griffin could turn back the clock against a suspect Wizards defense.
Griffin is far from the jaw-dropping athlete we saw with the Clippers, as he appears to be relegated to a spot-up shooting role that occasionally has him twist inside for some buckets. However, Brooklyn’s lack of depth could come back to bite them in the postseason, and if Griffin can help apply a Band-Aid over that wound, he was worth the effort.