Blake Griffin takes buyout, set free by the Pistons
Blake Griffin’s time in Detroit is over, another significant step in a rebuilding process that has the Pistons at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
The veteran forward and the Pistons agreed to a contract buyout.
“I thank the Pistons organization for working together on an outcome that benefits all involved and I wish the franchise success in the future,” Griffin said Friday in a statement released by the team.
The Pistons announced last month that they would keep Griffin out of the lineup while resolving his future, a clear sign that the star forward could be on the way out. The Pistons also traded Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks last month.
Griffin, who turns 32 later this month, came to Detroit in a trade during the 2017-18 season. The question now is how valuable he might be to a contending team. He had a terrific 2018-19 season for the Pistons, helping them to the playoffs, but his health has been a concern in Detroit, just as it had been when he was with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Griffin has averaged 12.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists in the 20 games he’s played this season.
Detroit is just 10-26 this season and had three firstround picks in last year’s draft. A couple of them — Isaiah Stewart and Saddiq Bey — have shown some promise. The Pistons also acquired Jerami Grant in the offseason, and he’s averaging 23.4 points per game.
NBA FINES JAZZ STARS
FOR RIPPING OFFICIALS >> The NBA fined Utah Jazz stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert a total of $45,000 on Friday for criticizing the officials after Wednesday’s 131-123 overtime loss to the 76ers in Philadelphia.
Mitchell was fined $25,000 for public criticism of the officiating and for his conduct while exiting the court.
After the two-time AllStar guard drew two technical fouls and was ejected with 30.8 seconds left, he “recklessly” knocked over a water cooler while leaving the court, the league said in a news release issued by executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe.
Gobert, a two-time AllStar center, was fined $20,000 for public criticism of the officiating.
“When my guys are getting fouled three times in a row, Mike Conley is going to the rim, they’re grabbing him right in front of the officials, and there’s no call,” Gobert said. “On the other side, there are calls that are invisible that are made. I think it’s disrespectful to the game of basketball and to our team.
“Hopefully they’re going to watch the game when they get home. We all do, I’ll watch it too, but hopefully they feel shame when they watch the game.”