The Boston Celtics are reportedly interested in trading for Los Angeles Clippers star Blake Griffin again, this time via a three-team trade with the Sacramento Kings.
The Los Angeles Clippers trading Blake Griffin to the Boston Celtics was a popular idea during the 2015-16 NBA season. Once the Clippers were supposedly “way better without Blake” and he punched equipment staff member Matias Testi, many were quick to say his time in L.A. should come to an end. So, as a team with more valuable trade assets than any other franchise in need of a superstar, the Celtics were easy to discuss as the partner for a deal.
As the season came to an end, though, Doc Rivers continued to reiterate that he wouldn’t trade any of the Clippers’ Big 3. And once the Celtics failed to land others stars on draft night, it looked like their sights were set elsewhere.
Now, we’ve heard more murmurs that Danny Ainge may still be interested in landing Griffin via a three-team trade including the Sacramento Kings, according to Keith Smith of Real GM.
Hearing some rumors here in Las Vegas that BOS is talking Blake Griffin again. And this time it could be a 3 way with SAC getting R. Gay.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) July 11, 2016
Smith clarified a typo by saying that it would obviously be the Clippers receiving Rudy Gay, the Celtics still receiving Griffin, with Jae Crowder heading to Sacramento. While it’s uncertain what the other pieces may be, it’s incredibly hard to see such a trade being of much interest to the Clippers if the center of the package they receive is Gay.
To clarify my earlier tweet: BOS would get Griffin, LAC would get Gay and SAC would get Crowder. Other pieces also involved.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) July 11, 2016
We don’t know all the pieces and there haven’t been and more new reports on a potential Griffin trade, but there doesn’t seem much — if any — chance of this happening whatsoever. Firstly, because there aren’t enough or any notable reports on the matter yet. Secondly, because the Clippers would need so much more than Gay to make trading Griffin remotely worth their while.
Despite all the rumors that the Kings are actively shopping Gay and that he wants out of Sacramento, it could be easier for them to part ways in a smaller trade, rather than rounding out a three-team blockbuster deal.
For the Celtics, going after another superstar makes total sense. They did well to earn themselves a meeting with Kevin Durant in free agency, a testament to their great coaching in Brad Stevens and the plethora of young, talented role players led by All-Star Isaiah Thomas.
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Now, after finally landing a star marquee free agent by signing Al Horford to a four-year, $113 million max contract, they have a new star. Not just one that can help on offense by spacing the floor, burying shot after shot in pick-and-pops, and taking the ball inside, but one that can solidify their interior defense, cover pick-and-rolls, and switch to the perimeter incredibly well for a center.
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Possibly the best part of the signing is that they didn’t lose any valuable trade assets to land Horford, meaning they still have the pieces to go after a superstar.
In Blake Griffin, they’d have an elite scorer and playmaker to turn their frontcourt into one of the most formidable All-Star duos in the league.
This all comes back to the Clippers, though. Griffin will be the most valuable player in the trade by a long way and Doc won’t give him up easily. It still looks like the team will persist with one last run before Chris Paul and Griffin can test free agency next summer, hoping that some injuries will hit the Golden State Warriors to make them look a little less unsurpassable when the playoffs roll around.
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While there is obvious logic behind trading Griffin to avoid losing him for nothing, this trade doesn’t look like the answer if Gay isn’t accompanied with a lot more talent. And unless we hear any more reports on the matter, Blake isn’t going anywhere.