NBA Free Agency Rumors: Oklahoma City Thunder planning run at Blake Griffin
The Oklahoma City Thunder appear set to be among the teams to make a run at Blake Griffin, a rumor that takes on more urgency after the Chris Paul trade.
Los Angeles Clippers’ fans heads are likely still spinning after Adrian Wojnarowski of the Vertical reported they had agreed to deal Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. It was already going to be a busy summer for them with both All-Stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin set to enter free agency.
Now that one of that puzzle piece is resolved, the Clippers will turn their attention to Blake Griffin. And the sharks are circling.
There are several teams hoping to get Griffin, including the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat. There has always been a connection between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Griffin, now there might actually be legs to that rumor.
Royce Young of ESPN.com reports the Thunder have been planning to go after Blake Griffin for some time. They certainly have to feel the chances of them acquiring him are better now that the Clippers have traded away their All-Star piece. If Griffin is looking for an All-Star running mate, there is no one better than MVP Russell Westbrook.
The Thunder have planned on chasing Blake Griffin for months now. They have to feel that their chances got at least a little better now.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) June 28, 2017
Whether the Thunder can clear the cap room to grab Griffin is another matter.
Oklahoma City has $110 million in guaranteed salary for next season, according to Eric Pincus’ salary database on Basketball Insiders. That is well over the league’s projected $99 million salary cap. The Thunder will either have to make some cap room or agree to some type of sign-and-trade with the Clippers. Sign-and-trades are very difficult in the current collective bargaining agreement.
The Thunder have some work to do if they really want to get below the cap to sign Griffin.
Griffin does have a connection to Oklahoma City, having played his college basketball at Oklahoma University in nearby Norman, Okla. That has always made everyone believe he might one day end up with the Thunder in free agency.
With the Clippers moving on from Paul, it certainly seems like it is open season on Blake Griffin. No one is quite sure if the Clippers can hold that core together and remain competitive. If Griffin is determined to play for a winner, he might be looking to move elsewhere.
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Only time will tell if the Thunder can make a serious push to acquire him.