There is no doubt about Blake Griffin’s star potential, skill set and marketability in the NBA. However, there are also plenty of reasons for concern when it comes to his future with the Los Angeles Clippers. Griffin’s injury history and off-court issues including a physical altercation with a team equipment manager that left him with a broken hand earlier this year have led some to believe it is time that he and the Clippers part ways. Here is a look at the potential destinations mentioned the most in the latest round of Griffin trade rumors.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics turned a lot of heads when they finished tied for the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference this season at 48-34. Brad Stevens has done an excellent job as head coach while Danny Ainge has assembled an impressive roster led by All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas. The problem for the Celtics has been their inability to acquire a true star to pair with Thomas over the last two seasons. Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Evan Turner, Jared Sullinger, Kelly Olynyk and Marcus Smart are all quality pieces but it’s common knowledge that Boston will need at least one or two star players to take the next step. Griffin would be an excellent fit as a forward that can do a bit of everything for the Celtics and it would be very interesting to see what Stevens would do to maximize his potential. Boston is on the rise in the Eastern Conference and acquiring Griffin could be the key to taking another step forward.
New York Knicks
The Knicks are another team that has been searching hard for a star player to compliment Carmelo Anthony over the past couple of seasons and there are reasons to believe a move to New York would make for a strong fit. The Knicks might not be able to keep Anthony but Griffin, Kristaps Porzingis and Arron Afflalo would make up an intriguing core to move forward with. New York didn’t improve as many expected they would this past season but the acquisition of Griffin could provide some optimism for a fan base that is desperate for it and help point the Knicks in the right direction.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City is in an intriguing position with Kevin Durant set to become a free agent this summer and Russell Westbrook in line to join him after next season. The feeling is that the Thunder could convince Durant to return for one more year if he believes he can contend for an NBA title and the addition of Griffin would certainly help in that area. Durant and Westbrook have carried Oklahoma City with several key role players around them but the addition of another star player in Griffin could help put the Thunder over the top as a true NBA championship contender in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers aren’t anywhere close to contending for an NBA title, but if Griffin wants to become the next star player to wear the gold and purple, then this could be a fit. Los Angeles has some intriguing young assets and picks that they could move and Griffin could interest them after failing to land several big name free agents over the past couple of years. Griffin already knows what it’s like to play in Los Angeles but he would have to be willing to move to a young team that is still in the midst of a rebuild. The Lakers certainly have a need for star power and the assets to move in a trade for Griffin but this potential trade route still seems the most unlikely of those discussed to this point.
The reason this could work is because the Lakers have some young assets that they could move over and Griffin would get the chance to have his own team. He’s had to share the attention with Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan (and even Doc Rivers, to an extent) but with the Lakers, he’d be the man.
