Blake Griffin is available via trade to any contending team that needs a scoring punch.
The Detroit Pistons are in full rebuild mode, and Griffin doesn’t fit that description. At 31 years old and hardly the player he once was, Griffin has rebuilt his game to resemble a point-forward type, testing his range in the last year-plus with the Pistons.
Griffin’s numbers have steadily decreased along with his availability, to the point he’s an actual detriment to Detroit’s youth movement when on the floor. Griffin is blocking the likes of Saddiq Bey, Sekou Doumbouya and even Isaiah Stewart from getting the reps they need, and Dwane Casey’s tendency to lean into his reliable veteran isn’t what this team needs right now.
With that in mind, the Pistons likely won’t be able to trade Griffin. He’s being paid like a star, despite failing to live up to that standard. Griffin’s due a remaining $36.5 million this season and has a $39 million option for 2021-22. Very few teams can handle that kind of a cap hit, and none would want to give up an asset for Griffin.
It’s unknown exactly how the Pistons will waive Griffin — whether it be by stretching his contract a la Josh Smith, or biting the bullet and paying him his worth upon an exit from the Motor City — but he’s played his last game in their uniform.
The question remains, though: If he’s bought out, which contenders would take a chance on Griffin without the lofty price tag attached?
These five contenders should add Blake Griffin
5. LA Clippers
Could a return to his old stomping grounds be in store for one of the kings of Lob City? Griffin made five straight All-Star teams from ages 21-25 as a member of that high-flying group that never quite reached the promise of an NBA title. Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Griffin were on highlight reels every night, frequenting the SportsCenter Top 10 early and often. These were simpler times.
Griffin hasn’t dunked in an NBA game since 2019, so that player is extinct. However, a return to the LA Clippers could be in store for a West Coast kid. The Clippers need a scoring punch, either from the bench or the 4-spot alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Losing Montrezl Harrell has hurt the Clippers more than they’d like to admit, and signing Griffin to a modest deal could add to an already deep bench unit that includes Lou Williams and Marcus Morris.
Not only does Griffin have familiarity with LA, but the Clippers also have Reggie Jackson and Luke Kennard in the reserve unit, paving the way for a Detroit reunion of sorts for Griffin. Even if the Clippers wish to start Griffin, thus pushing Nicolas Batum to the bench, Tyronn Lue’s club will have the necessary depth to contend with the Los Angeles Lakers this postseason.
4. Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets need an inside presence to replace what they lost in Jarrett Allen when he was shipped off to Cleveland in the James Harden trade. Griffin’s former teammate Jordan isn’t cutting it alone inside. Ironically enough, former Pistons big man Andre Drummond is in the mix as a potential option for the Nets, but they’ll likely wait for one of these two to be waived before they willingly take on another massive salary or trade any more assets away.
The Nets’ offensive firepower is undeniable, and having Griffin either in the starting five or off the bench would only add to that. In a secondary role, he’d face far less of a defensive presence and be able to flourish in Steve Nash’s offense. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden are all in their primes, taking attention away from a player of Griffin’s caliber. The Nets need rebounding and depth desperately, a role Griffin can fill well with his former teammate D.J.
Signing Griffin — which would require Brooklyn to waive someone — would virtually be taking a flier. They’d be hoping that reuniting him with Jordan, as well as giving him the opportunity to compete for a championship, might wake up a player who used to be one of the more explosive forces in the game. He won’t be flying above the rim, but that doesn’t mean Griffin’s offensive creativity is entirely a thing of the past.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers bench could use some serious work. So, why not add in Blake Griffin behind Tobias Harris at the 4?
Aside from having to waive someone to free up a roster spot, it’s not that simple. While on the surface, Griffin reuniting with his former head coach Doc Rivers seems like a selling point, we’re not sure that’s exactly the case. Griffin was insulted by the Clippers trading him to Detroit to the first place, and it’s the same reason why a move to back to LA would likely require some sort of a conversation between Blake and the front office. Doc has since moved on to Philly, obviously, and it’s unknown if Griffin still harbors any of those feelings. In the immediate aftermath of the trade, though, he wouldn’t even take Rivers’ calls. This came after the Clippers sold him on being the face of the franchise before signing him to his now-ludicrous contract.
So, long story short, it’s complicated. But the 76ers can do complicated if it means contending for a championship while they still have the Joel Embiid-Ben Simmons duo intact. As much as Sixers brass may build up Simmons on a regular basis, there’s a reason he was involved in trade talks for James Harden. The Sixers need to win now, and their depth in the frontcourt is suspect. Griffin brings an offensive scoring punch and was once an elite rebounder. As a secondary option and surrounded by playmakers, perhaps he can tap into that athletic build one more time, for old time’s sake.
2. Milwaukee Bucks
Okay, calling the Milwaukee Bucks a legitimate rival to the Pistons at this point in both the franchises’ development is a stretch considering they’re going in opposite directions, but bear with me. As much as Griffin’s skills have diminished, watching him sign in the same division probably isn’t ideal. Nonetheless, the Pistons don’t have much choice in the matter if they buy him out.
Griffin and Mike Budenholzer seem like a good match in general. Griffin could pair well with Giannis Antetokounmpo, as he’s developed a perimeter shot and can give the reigning MVP more space to get to the rim. When the Greek Freak needs to rest, Griffin can either become a focal point with the bench unit or a good Robin to Khris Middleton’s Batman.
Griffin is also at most a 30-minutes-per-game player at this point in his career. Injuries have taken their toll on Griffin’s lower body. But, when managed well, Griffin can provide the kind of high-energy minutes and intensity a Budenholzer-coached team relies on.
The bench unit looks like the best possible option for Griffin because of his minutes restriction. Not only this, but he’d be a tremendous upgrade over the Bucks current frontcourt depth. Bobby Portis alone won’t cut it. Letting Griffin be a primary playmaker and potential point-forward with a group of shooters around him is far more dangerous than what the Bucks have right now.
1. Los Angeles Lakers
Anthony Davis’ Achilles injury makes finding some sort of scoring punch an absolute priority for Rob Pelinka and the Los Angeles Lakers. That’s easier said than done given their cap situation, but if Griffin is available on the waiver market on an affordable contract, they can afford him as long as they waive someone on the end of the rotation.
Davis is out at least 2-3 weeks, at which time he’ll be reevaluated by team doctors. That could lead to an extended absence if his injury hasn’t fully healed, obviously. Signing a player of Griffin’s caliber would allow the Lakers to take thing slow with Davis, who has a complicated injury history of his own. Griffin joining the starting five would push Montrezl Harrell back to the bench unit, where he’s truly at his best as a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. Harrell has stepped in admirably in Davis’ absence, but pushing him up the depth chart takes away from what had been a fairly dangerous second unit for Frank Vogel.
From Griffin’s perspective, this is a chance to return home without rekindling things with the Clippers. Maybe that’s drama he’d rather put behind him anyway, but Griffin must see the Lakers’ championship pedigree as a situation he’d like to join.