Woj: Trail Blazers Possible Destination for Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin has agreed to a contract buyout with the Detroit Pistons and the Portland Trail Blazers are on the short list to pick him up. The news came from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN this morning.

The Blazers stand with the Nets, Warriors, and Heat as possible destinations.

The 6’9, 250lb forward holds career averages of 21.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, but his days of gaudy stats are long behind him. Injuries and age have cost the former NBA Slam Dunk champion mobility and lift. The 31-year-old averaged 12.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in 31.3 minutes per game over 20 appearances with the Pistons before the buyout. His shooting percentage of .365 was the lowest of his career save the .352 rate he put up the season prior. That stacks up against a career average of near 50%.

Griffin’’s .315 percentage from three-point range this season doesn’t help matters. He did average 36.2% from the arc on 7.2 attempts per game in 2018-19, his first year with the Pistons and his last All-Star-worthy campaign.

Portland would pick up Griffin on a minimum contract. They have the roster spot and the salary room to do so without exceeding the luxury tax threshold (barely).

A couple weeks ago, our own Steve Dewald outlined the possibility of the Blazers picking up Griffin.

It is clear that Griffin is entering a new, less-mobile era of his NBA career. But his name recognition and former relationship with Olshey should make him an obvious target for the Blazers if he enters the buyout market. For Griffin, the goodwill that the Blazers have built with Carmelo Anthony could serve as a starting point for shared interest.

You can read that post here.

The big question: Can Portland find gold in Griffin the way they did with Carmelo Anthony? Do you want him? Weigh in below.

Update: Shams Charania of The Athletic says that Brooklyn may have the inside track for Griffin.

h/t GMan83202 in the comments!