NBA rumors: 5 dark horses to sign Blake Griffin if he’s bought out

If Blake Griffin is bought out, these five NBA teams could be dark horses for his services.

NBA trade season is rapidly approaching, but don’t expect Blake Griffin to be on the move anytime soon … or at least, not as part of a trade.

While it’s true Griffin is currently sitting out games for the Detroit Pistons as they mull their trade and buyout options, the star power forward’s whopping $36.5 million salary would be hard for any contender to absorb even if he wasn’t a shell of his former self.

Between Griffin’s massive price tag, his $39 million player option for next season and his dwindling production in the form of a career-low 12.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game on dismal .365/.315/.710 shooting splits, no playoff-caliber team is going to bite that kind of bullet, let alone give the Pistons legitimate assets for him.

However, as difficult as it is to work out potential trades that would make sense, that’s not to say it’s impossible to envision a scenario where Griffin gets his wish of playing for a more competitive team as his career winds down. Midseason buyouts are rare, but if the Pistons cut him loose, plenty of teams will line up to land a former superstar with passing abilities and an improved 3-point shot to their roster at a discounted price.

Griffin will have his pick of a number of contenders if he gets his buyout, but the following playoff-caliber teams could be dark horses to land him in the ensuing bidding war.