Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that the Los Angeles Clippers have dealt Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons in a deal including Avery Bradley, Tobias Harris, and a first-round pick.
The NBA has been particularly quiet leading up to this year’s trade deadline, but that’s all changed now.
Adrian Wojnarowski dropped a bomb on Twitter today, reporting that the LA Clippers and the Detroit Pistons have finalized a Blake Griffin deal.
In exchange for Griffin, Brice Johnson, and Willie Reed, the Pistons will send Avery Bradley, Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic, a first-round pick, and a second-round pick.
This comes as a surprise for Clippers fans, many of whom were certain that a DeAndre Jordan trade was far more likely. However, trade talks have likely stalled regarding Jordan due to the team’s inability to secure a first-round pick.
Griffin has spent his entire career with the Clippers, being selected with the team’s No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. During that time, he has posted career averages of 21.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
While this is surely a somber moment for Clippers fans, this deal cleared massive amounts of cap space. Griffin had previously signed a five-year, $173 million deal in June 2017. This will allow the Clippers to make a push for a big-name star in free agency, or to extend the contracts of Jordan and Lou Williams, if they so choose.
Bradley was in the midst of his first season with the Detroit Pistons. Known for his defense and three-point ability, the guard has averaged 15.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per game this season.
Harris is also in the midst of a career-year with the Pistons, scoring a career-high 18.1 points per game. He and Bradley were Detroit’s two best scorers this season.
Marjanovic could take Reed’s place in the depth chart, who has been efficient in limited minutes this season.
The players are important, but this deal likely only happened because the Pistons offered two draft picks, something the Clippers have been clamoring for all year. The direction of the team is unknown as of yet, but this deal opens up a wide variety of options.