Clipperholics
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2016-2017 LA Clippers – Last Year or Lob City: Where are They Now?

By Cannon Wonderlich

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 3: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball against Mike Muscala #31 of the Philadelphia 76ers on November 3, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 3: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball against Mike Muscala #31 of the Philadelphia 76ers on November 3, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FL – NOVEMBER 7: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons looks on against the Orlando Magic on November 7, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – NOVEMBER 7: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons looks on against the Orlando Magic on November 7, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Blake Griffin (Power Forward)

Blake Griffin was the first overall pick of the legendary 2009 NBA Draft to the LA Clippers. He was drafted before players like Stephen Curry (seventh to the Golden State Warriors), James Harden (third to the Oklahoma City Thunder), and DeMar DeRozan  (ninth to the Toronto Raptors). He gave the loyal and tortured Clippers fans hope for the future. He consistently produced big numbers for the team and even finished third in MVP voting in 2014. In 2016-2017, Blake sealed the Clippers fate of being eliminated after suffering a toe injury in game three of the first round of the playoffs against the Utah Jazz.

That season, Griffin averaged 21.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. Griffin would go on to start out the 2017-2018 season on the LA Clippers before being traded in January 2018 to the Detroit Pistons along with Brice Johnson and Willie Reed for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, and a 2018 first round pick (Miles Bridges). The Pistons went on to miss the playoffs in his first half-season on their team. This season, Griffin is still a Piston and set a new career high for points at 50 in a win against the Philadelphia 76ers recently and is an early candidate for MVP.

Brice Johnson (Power Forward)

2016-2017 was Brice Johnson’s rookie year and first season as a Clipper. He only played in three games where he averaged 1.3 points. He was traded with Blake Griffin to Detroit in January 2018, where he was traded just days later to the Memphis Grizzlies. He was waived by the Grizzlies in March and hasn’t played an NBA minute since. While his career has not been as long as he may have hoped and he may not be done with the NBA, Johnson’s Per 36 Minutes stats are incredible. While it doesn’t necessarily mean anything, per 36 minutes in Johnson’s rookie season, he averaged 16 points 4 assists, 12 rebounds, 8 steals, and 4 blocks. Those are crazy numbers, but it is unlikely, even if he was given the minute, that he would average those stats.