Griffin OKS buyout, reportedly eyes Nets
DETROIT — Blake Griffin’s time in the Motor City 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 have agreed to a buyout, a person with knowledge of the situation said Friday.
The Brooklyn Nets are being widely reported as the favorites to sign Griffin after the buyout is official and he clears waivers.
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 veteran guard 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. 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.
While no longer the highflying highlight maker he was with the Clippers, Griffin has become a serviceable 3-point threat. He averaged 12.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists in the 20 games he played with the Pistons this season.
Griffin was traded to the Pistons just seven months after signing a five-year, $171 million contract to stay with the Clippers. A couple seasons ago, he averaged a career-high 24.5 points — but even in that 2018-19 campaign, Detroit was swept in the first round of the playoffs, and the team wasn’t able to build on that.
Female fan arrested at Lavine’s home
Before Chicago Bulls guard Zach Lavine left for Atlanta to play in his first NBA All-star Game, an incident at his home Thursday night resulted in police being called after a fan refused to leave the property.
Lavine was at his home when a woman he reportedly didn’t know showed up and refused to leave, TMZ reported. The intruder came from out of state and demanded to have a conversation.
The woman reportedly was transferred to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation. She also was warned not to return to Lavine’s home, according to NBC Sports Chicago.
Around the time of the incident, Lavine was drafted to play for Kevin Durant’s team in the All-star Game on Sunday. He also is scheduled to compete in the 3-Point Contest.
Mitchell and Gobert fined for ripping refs
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell and center Rudy Gobert were fined by the NBA on Friday for criticizing the officiating in Wednesday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Mitchell, who also was reprimanded for knocking down a water cooler as he left the court, was fined 25,000, and Gobert was fined $20,000. Utah’s two All-stars suggested in postgame comments that as a small-market team, the Jazz don’t get a fair shake from officials.
Hawks’ Hunter closer to returning
Atlanta Hawks forward De’andre Hunter has stepped up his rehabilitation from right knee surgery, but it will be another two weeks before the team knows how close he is to returning.
The Hawks announced Friday that Hunter has been cleared to do unrestricted weight room work and progressive on-court drills. His condition will be reviewed again March 19.