Re-visiting the Blake Griffin trade before his return to face the LA Clippers

DETROIT, MI – FEBRUARY 9: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons looks to the sidelines during the third quarter of the game against the LA Clippers at Little Caesars Arena on February 9, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. LA Clippers defeated Detroit Pistons 108-95. 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 (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Nearly a year after being traded, Blake Griffin makes his return to face his former team, the LA Clippers. How did the trade pan out for both teams?

We are only 19 days away from the one year anniversary of the Blake Griffin trade. On January 29, 2018, fans, media and players were shocked to learn that the LA Clippers had agreed to ship off Blake Griffin, Brice Johnson, Willie Reed and a second-round pick to Detroit in exchange for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, a first-round pick and a second-round pick.

Many Clippers’ fans still can’t believe that the cornerstone of the team was moved after being sold as becoming the first Clipper for life. Griffin had been a pillar and had brought the once maligned franchise to relevancy and into contention.

Others though (albeit less), were relieved that the team wouldn’t be shelling out over $30 million a year to a player who had relied heavily on his athleticism, had a history of injuries and was approaching 30-years-old.

As the one year anniversary approaches, so does Blake’s first time being back in Staples Center to face his former team. He already has faced them once, shortly after the trade last season, but has yet to play in front of a Clipper Nation crowd. In that game there were some signs of emotion, which makes sense given the recent news that Griffin still has not spoken to Doc Rivers nor members of the front office since being dealt.

Some of his jitters related to the arena may also be gone, having just played in Staples Center for the first time last night against the Los Angeles Lakers. He scored 16 points in the loss.

But how did this trade pan out for the Clippers and the Pistons, both in the short-term and long-term? Let’s take a look at where the two franchises are now and where they could be in the 2021-22 season, when Blake enters the last year of his contract.

Without further ado, let’s look at how the Pistons made out by getting Griffin.