Blake Griffin was intrigued by Celtics before joining Nets

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The Boston Celtics' reported interest in Blake Griffin went both ways, it appears.

The veteran forward is set to make his Nets debut Sunday after signing with Brooklyn earlier this month. But after his buyout from the Detroit Pistons on March 5, Griffin was weighing several options -- one of which was the Celtics.

"I will tell you some of the teams," Griffin said on Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take" podcast. "I really liked Boston. I really liked Golden State. I really liked Portland. There (were) a few other teams. It was a tough decision, but ultimately I had to do what was best for me."

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Griffin was averaging a career-low 12.3 points per game in Detroit and looked like a shell of the player who made five NBA All-Star teams over seven-plus seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers. He hasn't played since Feb. 12 due to a knee injury and has appeared in more than 60 games in a season just once since 2016-17.

So, Celtics fans may not have been thrilled about the idea of Griffin coming to Boston, even on a bargain $1.2 million deal. But it's still a good sign that the 31-year-old viewed Boston as an enticing destination -- especially as the Celtics endure one of their worst seasons of the last half-decade.

Griffin likely won't play a big role on a loaded Nets team that's second in the Eastern Conference, but he could provide a boost for Brooklyn off the bench down the stretch.

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