The Los Angeles Clippers are in a tough situation right now. Blake Griffin is set to miss the next two months with a broken hand after he got drunk and injured himself while fighting the team’s equipment trainer in the street. It’s not a good look. On top of that, the Clippers have actually looked just fine – if not better – without him this season, so that’s spurred a lot of interesting Griffin trade rumors. What was once an unthinkable reality is slowly becoming more and more a possibility. Will the Clippers actually trade Griffin? Probably not unless someone offers them the world in return. However, we’ve got four unrealistic trade rumors that actually make a lot of sense if they do want to pull the trigger.
Griffin to the Heat for Chris Bosh, Justice Winslow
The fact that L.A. has looked so good without Griffin in their lineup has led to suggestions that the Clippers would be better off with a star that better fits what they want to do. There might not be a better option out there than Chris Bosh. Bosh has transformed from a high-usage scorer to the perfect complimentary player that has shown he can do a little bit of everything while playing at an All-Star level. Bosh would be the perfect fit as stretch-four next to DeAndre Jordan while Justice Winslow would be the young wing that could sweeten the pot enough to get a deal done. The Clippers have tried to use guys like Pierce, Stephenson and Wes Johnson on the wing but Winslow would have the most upside. The Heat would benefit from adding Griffin and opening up some cap space to attract free agents while the Clippers complete a roster that would be ready to contend for an NBA championship right now. This is one of the Griffin trade rumors that makes the most sense.
Griffin to the Knicks for Carmelo Anthony, Jose Calderon
The New York Knicks are inching closer to becoming a respectable franchise again but one of the biggest question marks right now is what will happen with Carmelo Anthony? A potential trade to Los Angeles would certainly answer that question. The Knicks get a younger franchise player and one that fits Phil Jackson’s scheme a bit better while Anthony provides the immediate scoring and star power that could allow the Clippers to compete with the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs. If the Clippers actually believe they’re just fine – or better – without Griffin, they can pull the trigger and take a step closer to the championship right now.
Griffin to the Hawks for Al Horford, Kyle Korver
The Atlanta Hawks are in a tough spot heading in to the NBA trade deadline. It doesn’t look like they will be able to sign Al Horford as a free agent this summer and they will eventually have to decide between Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroder. The point guard decision can wait but Atlanta would be smart to move Horford now in an effort to get something (see: DeMarre Carroll).
For the Clippers, they might not be downgrading that much as Horford can still be an All-Star but they also get Korver, who would be another strong addition as a scorer that could come off the bench. This move would help Los Angeles win now and really put the Hawks in a much stronger position for the future.
Griffin to the Celtics For Jae Crowder, Jared Sullinger, Avery Bradley & 1ST Round Pick
The Boston Celtics tried hard to acquire a star player this past offseason but missed out. It only makes sense that they would want to acquire a player as talented as Griffin to get that franchise centerpiece they’ve been looking for. The Celtics are loaded with young assets and draft picks, but they don’t have that star power that could elevate them to the next level in the Eastern Conference. Crowder, Sullinger and Bradley are quality young players that could help the Clippers round out their roster and win now, and Griffin might very well be the perfect fit for Boston. The addition of a first-round pick might be enough to convince L,A, to make the trade. If the Clippers feel like they’re just as good without Griffin, they can add a number of quality roleplayers in this spot that can help them win now and put them in a better position for the future.
