The Detroit Pistons have decided to end the Blake Griffin era, whether by trade or a buyout agreement, much like Andre Drummond’s situation with the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s still a question of how Griffin will be moved, the six-time NBA All-Star has played his last game with the Pistons.
According to an NBA executive, the Pistons have been trying to find a trade for Blake Griffin ‘for months’ but they couldn’t find a team interested in getting a deal done.
“I know they’ve been trying to trade him for months and can’t find a taker,” a Western Conference executive told HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. “Part of it is Blake also saying there are certain teams he would prefer to go to. This is a weird one. Non zero chance they buy him out, which just seems crazy.”
There are a variety of complicating factors that come into play when it comes to both a trade or a buyout agreement involving Blake Griffin.
It starts with the fact that he has a $39 million player option for next season and Blake Griffin would have to surely leave a lot of money on the table if bought out. This is where there is a key distinction from Andre Drummond as he is playing on an expiring deal.
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The situation comes down to whether it’s more likely a trade suitor will want to take on Blake Griffin’s contract, or he is willing to leave money on the team. It’s not impossible but seems unlikely the Pistons would take a massive cap hit to let him sign elsewhere.
It has been a rough season for Blake Griffin and it truly appears that injuries have gotten the best of him. He is averaging just 12.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists on 36.5% shooting from the field. At 31, he’s no longer a top-tier player at his position but could fill a key role.
