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The Los Angeles Clippers traded “Clipper-for-life” Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons Monday. He was traded for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic and a first-round pick.
Griffin signed a five-year, $173-million extension last summer. Griffin did not receive a no-trade clause in the new contract. “They made a big deal that he committed to the Clippers. They were trying to recruit him and make sure he stayed put,” Sean Deveney, the national NBA writer for Sporting News said.
“He was going to be a clipper for life.”
Deveney said he did not see the Clippers’ “swift change of heart” coming.
Three Considerations for the Clippers
This trade came as a shock to Deveney. But the expert said the Clippers had to ask themselves three things before stripping Griffin from his red, white and blue jersey. First, Deveney said the Clippers must ask where they are headed.
According to ESPN, this season, Griffin is averaging 22.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 33 games for the 25-24 Clippers.
Second, Deveney said Griffin has a track record for getting hurt. The L.A. Times said injuries marred Griffin from the start: “A knee fracture wiped out his entire first season, and the 6-10, 250-pound forward failed to finish each of the Clippers’ past two playoff runs, cementing the team’s failure to advance past the second round.”
Deveney said the Clippers don’t know how reliable he is.
Lastly, he mentions that $173 million is too much money to hum and haw about.
“If you are having second thoughts six months after signing him to that deal,” Deveney said. “Than certainly you’d be open to looking for a trade.”
Money Talk
The L.A. Times said, the Clippers gained about $1.6 million in payroll space. They sent out about $32.2 million in the salaries of Griffin, Reed and Johnson while taking in about $30.6 million in the contracts of Bradley, Harris and Marjanovic. Deveney said the Clippers made the right decision .
Griffin Says He’s Ready for the Next Chapter
— Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin32) January 30, 2018
Detroit welcomes Griffin with open arms, and now a $7 million trade exception, according to ESPN.
SVG on Blake.
It's Wired presented by @Jeep pic.twitter.com/j1uLJCsloa
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 30, 2018
