Breaking down the rumored Blake Griffin-Kevin Durant swap
By Jeff Nisius
The fit
Griffin is an elite forward and one of the greatest passing big men of all-time, at least this far into his career. His assist rate is absurd for someone of his size and is comparable to some starting point guards.
Durant fills a huge need for the Clippers as a hybrid forward would can play the three and four. He is also an elite scorer who would add an unbelievable amount of spacing around Jordan and Paul. Imagine a Paul and Jordan pick-and-roll with Durant and Redick spotting up on the wings. How do you defend that horrifying action?
Additionally, Durant takes major pressure off Paul in crunch-time situations, because of his ability to shoot, attack off the dribble and draw fouls. This has been the team’s Achilles heel for years. For as great as Griffin is, he hasn’t been able to relieve the pressure defenses put on Paul with the game on the line.
Finally, Durant is a solid defender, but also can play the four next to Jordan, allowing Rivers all sorts of lineup flexibility moving forward. The Clippers’ roster has desperately needed a starting caliber wing player and Durant gives them one of the very best in the NBA.
Before we jump the gun, there are a few hang ups to any Griffin and Durant swap. The biggest one being would Durant want to join Paul in Los Angeles? There are also financial and CBA restrictions that must be navigated.
Next: Digging into the money