Blake Griffin Sent to Detroit in Shocking Trade
The First Superstar of the NBA Trade Period has Been Moved
Blake Griffin celebrates some down time on the court
On January 29, the Clippers made a blockbuster deal with the Detroit Pistons involving All-Star power forward Blake Griffin. The Clippers sent Griffin along with bench players Brice Johnson and Willie Reed to the Pistons in exchange for Avery Bradley, Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic, a 2018 first-round pick, and a 2019 second-round pick. Although the Clippers look like they got a lot for Griffin, only time will tell if the trade pans out. However, things do seem to be looking up, as Bradley is considered one of the most prominent two way shooting guards in the NBA. Harris may also be a steal, as he has huge potential to grow into a superstar small forward with the time and shot selection he will be offered with extended time on the floor. As far as what the Pistons gain from the trade, they picked up an All-Star caliber player with a versatile game involving new 3-point shooting ability.
Griffin can pair well with All-Star center Andre Drummond to give the Pistons one of the most dangerous frontcourt duos in the NBA. However, Griffin is very prone to injury, with a history including but not limited to: torn quadriceps, sprained MCL, torn ACL, and a broken hand. When healthy, Griffin absolutely dominates on the court and shows why he was worth the 5 year, $173 million deal he signed with the Clippers in June of 2017. This contract may have been a big reason the Clippers traded Griffin in the first place, as they wanted to ship out any big money, long term deals as they begin a reconstruction phase in the organization. Somehow, the Pistons found a way to take on Griffin’s deal, despite the fact that Drummond is currently playing under a 5 year, $130 million deal signed in 2016. By the 2020-2021 season, the Pistons could end up paying $70 million to just Drummond and Griffin, meaning that they have absolutely no financial flexibility to snag another good player in the near future. Overall, there is no legitimate way to determine how this trade will affect the fate of these two teams. Griffin could avoid his injury-prone past and start a dynasty with Drummond, or he could continue the current trend and end up costing Detroit a lot of money for a little productivity. The draft picks Detroit sent Los Angeles are the most important part of this deal for the Clippers, as they offer immediate value in drafting high caliber college players or as bargaining chips in deals for established veterans.
