Blake Griffin was bought out by the Detroit Pistons. He left $13.3 million on the table so he could become a free agent and sign anywhere (one of the biggest buyouts in NBA history). As I have previously discussed Griffin has been brutal this season, averaging 12.3 points and 5.2 rebounds on 36% from the field and 31% from 3, where he is taking 6 per game. Those are not good numbers. The belief around the league is that Griffin is likely to end up with the Brooklyn Nets. I am not a fan of that fit. There are a lot of questions surrounding Griffin. What does he have left in the tank? What could a Nets fit look like? And what would be a good scenario for Blake?
Someone is going to sign Blake Griffin. He was an All-Star 2 seasons ago but injuries plagued him last season, as they have his entire career, and he has really been bad this season. We have seen examples of guys who were left for dead during their careers and went to new teams and revitalized their careers. For example, Carmelo Anthony played 10 games in Houston during the 2018-19 season before he was released and was not signed for the rest of the season. He was signed by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2019 and has revitalized his career. Nic Batum was with the Charlotte Hornets where he was becoming a guy who did not play and waived in November and has revitalized his career with the Los Angeles Clippers. So there are examples of guys who have recreated their careers with new teams. Griffin was a great player who always seemed to get hurt at the worst times. It’s why the Clippers traded him in 2018 and it is one of the main reasons why those lob city teams never even got to the conference finals. Blake Griffin can still be a solid player who can give a team 15 or 16 points a game, he is still a really good passer as well, and a team should definitely give him a look. But I do not believe that team should be the Brooklyn Nets.
The Brooklyn Nets have a major hole, center. They traded Jarrett Allen to Cleveland as a part of the James Harden Blockbuster and DeAndre Jordan is not the player he used to be. So that is a hole. One spot where Brooklyn does not have a hole is a small ball center. Guys like Jeff Green and Kevin Durant fill that hole. They need a guy who is a rim running shot blocker. Not a guy who can stretch the floor and take minutes away from Green, Bruce Brown, and Joe Harris. The Nets should pursue Cavaliers center JaVale McGee, a guy who has won 3 championships and a guy who has expanded his game to even making some 3 pointers this season, 49% on 0.5 attempts per game. Griffin has not dunked in an NBA game since December 2019. So he is another below the rim player who is not a very good defender. Could he be an upgrade to Jeff Green, yeah maybe. But I would go in a different direction by adding something they need to their team, not someone like Griffin who is a very similar player to Jeff Green and Bruce Brown.
The team I think Griffin does fit and should sign with is the Milwaukee Bucks. Milwaukee has guys like Bobby Portis, Thanasis Antetokounmpo (not to be confused with Giannis Antetokounmpo), Torrey Craig, and D.J. Wilson at the back up 4 and 5 roles. Griffin can absolutely beat out those players with Portis and Brook Lopez at the center position there would not be pressure to play center, even though he could play the back up 5 role if needed. So there is a role in Milwaukee can prove himself that he can still play. He can play the 4 in minutes where the Bucks want to play Giannis at center due to his ability to pass and shoot. He is a great fit with the 3 Milwaukee stars because of his ability to pass and shoot. Yes, he is a minus on defense but the Bucks can hide that better than Brooklyn can and Milwaukee needs a guy who can create a shot for others on their team.
With that all said I expect Griffin to sign with the Brooklyn Nets in the next couple of days, and maybe be ready for their next game against the Boston Celtics. Blake Griffin once dunked over a car and won a dunk contest, now he doesn’t dunk anymore. What does he have left in the tank? How much can he provide a team with? These are the questions that we are all wondering.
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