Pistons and Clippers make huge trade
The Detroit Pistons dramatically shook their struggling National Basketball Association roster, acquiring five-time all-star forward Blake Griffin in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Pistons announced the deal for the face of the Clippers early Tuesday. Detroit sent forward Tobias Harris, guard Avery Bradley and centre Boban Marjanovic to Los Angeles, with the Clippers also receiving draft picks. Detroit also acquired forward Brice Johnson and centre Willie Reed.
“We are serious about winning, and this is a major move to improve our team,” Pistons owner Tom Gores said in a statement. “Blake Griffin is one of the NBA’s elite players, and when you get an opportunity to add that kind of talent, you take it.”
Griffin, 28, is averaging 22.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 33 games this season, but the Clippers have been plagued by injuries and are ninth in the Western Conference standings.
Detroit is scuffling as well. The Pistons have lost eight straight heading into Tuesday night’s game against Cleveland.
Last July, Griffin agreed to a $171million, five-year deal, ending a brief flirtation with free agency. He told his teammates, coach Doc Rivers and owner Steve Ballmer, “I want my legacy to be a Clipper.”
The deal didn’t include a notrade clause for the second-leading scorer in franchise history with 10,863 points.
“Blake is one of the best players ever to wear a Clippers jersey. We want to express our gratitude and respect for everything he has done for this team and the city of Los Angeles,” said Lawrence Frank, Clippers president of basketball operations. “This was a very difficult decision, but we ultimately felt it was appropriate for the franchise.”
Griffin gives Detroit’s frontcourt another standout alongside Andre Drummond, but it also represents a clear change in course from the roster the Pistons had assembled. Detroit acquired Bradley in a trade with Boston last off-season, but he’s in the final season of his contract. Harris has been impressive for the Pistons this season, shooting a career-best 41 per cent from threepoint range.
“The move is not without risk. We gave up a lot to get him, including Tobias Harris — one of the hardest-working, highest-character players I know — and two highquality young men in Avery Bradley and Boban Marjanovic,” Gores said. “But we are very excited to bring Blake Griffin to Detroit. He is a great fit for our team and will bring a combination of toughness and athleticism that will elevate our team and excite our fans.”
Detroit’s season was looking promising until a late-December injury to point guard Reggie Jackson.
The Pistons have stumbled while he’s been out with a sprained right ankle, and the team is facing the prospect of missing the playoffs in its first season at its new downtown arena.
Detroit’s next six games are at home, so the Pistons will have a chance to turn this season around — and an opportunity to build for a future with both Griffin and Drummond.
“His presence will help us offensively and his size gives us another rebounder and weapon in the paint,” said Stan Van Gundy, Detroit’s coach and team president.
“Willie Reed and Brice Johnson are two young players that give us size and depth.”
For the Clippers, moving Griffin continues a makeover of a franchise that has never made it past the second round of the playoffs.
The Clippers traded All-Star point guard Chris Paul to Houston last summer.
He had been credited with bringing respectability to the team that was once the laughingstock of the league.
Without Paul, Los Angeles won its first four games to open the season, and then lost nine of its next 11.
The team is one game above .500 going into Tuesday night’s game against Portland.
Paul’s replacement, Patrick Beverley, has missed the entire season after right knee surgery.
Also missing time have been DeAndre Jordan, Danilo Gallinari, Austin Rivers and Milos Teodosic.