Griffin returning with a smile
Clippers star says signing 5-year max deal was easy call.
Blake Griffin was back in his usual place, front and center on a Clippers stage.
After opting out of his contract, Griffin didn’t spend the offseason deliberating over whether to sign with another team — like his teammate DeAndre Jordan famously did. For Griffin, it was an easy decision to sign a max five-year deal to stay with the only team he’s played for in his seven-year career.
“I want to say how excited I am to be back. This has been my home since I was drafted. A lot went into this decision,” Griffin said Wednesday. “In the end, I realized this was a no-brainer for me. This is the place where I want to start and finish my career. I’ve never been more excited about an opportunity.”
Griffin, 28, is undoubtedly the star of the Clippers with Chris Paul gone in the trade with the Rockets that sent Patrick Beverley to Los Angeles.
Griffin said he and Paul talked about his decision to want to leave the Clippers.
“No hard feelings,” said Griffin, a five-time All-Star. “I think we’re all professional enough to know and we’ve all been in the situation now to know sometimes you have to do what’s right and what’s best for yourself and your family. I’ve never had hard feelings with any of my teammates who decided to leave or felt like it was best to leave. I wouldn’t start now.”
For the Clippers, the prospect of Griffin leaving as well made for a nervous stretch, but it didn’t last long. Griffin quickly made a decision to re-sign for about $175 million.
“This is a great day in Clipper history, when you get a guy of Blake’s ability to say, ‘I want to be a Clipper,’” coach Doc Rivers said. “I think that messaging for us is amazing. You know about his talent. We wanted to bring him back because of what he had done. He’s one of the best-passing, best-scoring, best-defending big men in our history of our franchise. The fact we can get him and keep him and build around Blake, it’s phenomenal for us. Our goal doesn’t change.”
Griffin, the No. 1 overall pick in 2010, is the only player to reach the 10,000 career point mark all in a Clippers uniform. He pointed to the franchise’s plan, ownership, coaching staff and roster as reasons to return.
Last year, Griffin averaged 21.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists. He’s dealt with injuries throughout his career and is rehabbing from a toe injury. He’s expected to be ready by training camp.
Griffin canceled meetings with other teams after he met with the Clippers.
“I didn’t want to waste anybody’s time,” Griffin said. “Once I met with the Clippers, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
Spurs: Manu Ginobili appears to be putting off retirement for at least another season. The forward, who turns 40 on July 28, tweeted he is re-signing with San Antonio. The 6-foot-6 guard has been a part of four of the Spurs’ five NBA championships.
Grizzlies: Mario Chalmers, who hasn’t played for nearly 1½ years for Memphis after rupturing his right Achilles tendon, re-signed with the team Wednesday. Terms of the contract weren’t disclosed.
Suns: General manager Ryan McDonough has a new three-year contract and an additional front office helper in longtime NBA player James Jones, named vice president of basketball operations.
Timberwolves: Veteran guard Jamal Crawford picked Minnesota over the Cavaliers and Warriors, the past two NBA champions. Crawford signed a two-year deal worth that will pay him more than $4.2 million this season.