Blake Griffin reluctantly packed his bags and abandoned the sunny skies of LA.
After being bombarded with superlatives and what amounted to be erroneous promises, Griffin was ultimately traded just seven months after re-signing with the LA Clippers on a five-year deal worth 173 million dollars before the start of the 2017 NBA season.
During his first showdown against his former team, Griffin was cautiously approached by Steve Ballmer, LA’s current owner. In a moment’s notice, however, Griffin purposely ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction.
But, as the saying goes, time truly heals all wounds. According to Blake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Griffin is likely heading back to LA. However, it’s ostensible that both the Lakers and Clippers are vying for his services.
What has Blake Griffin been up to leaving LA and how could he help?
Since leaving the warm weather of LA, Griffin’s career has suffered several ups, but even more downs. During his first full season in Detroit, Griffin played like a man possessed, averaging 24.5 points a night and being rewarded with his sixth All-Star Game selection. But, since then, Griffin’s numbers have continued to suffer.
In his subsequent two seasons following his final All-Star berth, Griffin averaged 11 and 12.3 points per game respectively. Detroit, unamused by his declining production, cut him loose. Griffin would then go on to sign with the Brooklyn Nets. In two seasons wearing the black and white, Griffin’s impact was inconsequential, as he averaged just 7.5 points per game.
During their most recent postseason run, Griffin seldom stepped foot on the court, playing in a total of two of Brooklyn’s four games for a grand total of 25 minutes.
Still, while Griffin isn’t the high flyer he once was, both LA teams appear to be interested. In the case of the Clippers, their lack of tenacity on the glass has haunted them. Currently, even with the return of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, paired with the impending signing of former All-Star guard John Wall, Ivica Zubac serves as the Clippers’ lone big man in the middle.
With Griffin’s options waning, he seems to be angling for a return to familiar territory.