Source: Griffin returning to the Clippers

Blake Griffin was in line to be one of the most pursued players in free agency.

That is, until he decided to skip free agency. And his reward for that will be the richest contract in NBA history.

Hours before other teams could officially start trying to woo him away from the Los Angeles Clippers, Griffin agreed to terms on a five-year deal worth approximately $175 million to remain with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be formally announced until at least Thursday.

Griffin’s deal will be worth about $22 million more than the $153 million contract Memphis guard Mike Conley signed last summer. Griffin was planning to meet with other teams this weekend, including Phoenix, but canceled those talks after striking the deal to stay in Los Angeles.

Griffin is still only 28, and the Clippers hope that means he’s just entering his prime. And his agreeing to stay with the Clippers ensures that it won’t be a total reset in L.A. next season. His team will however look decidedly different, after nine-time All-Star Chris Paul decided to leave and wound up getting traded ahead of the freeagency window to the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster deal earlier this week.

Griffin was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft, then missed that entire ensuing season with a left knee injury.