The Clippers are reportedly at least thinking about trading Blake Griffin if they again come up short in the playoffs.
Other teams will try to accelerate that timeline, especially while Griffin’s value is so low.
Mitch Lawrence of Sporting News:
The Clippers have talked to the Nuggets about trading Blake Griffin to Denver, per NBA sources.
— Mitch Lawrence (@Mitch_Lawrence) February 5, 2016
I don’t know the substance of those talks, but this feels like the type of rumor generated by:
1. Nuggets calling Clippers about Griffin
2. Clippers saying they’re not interested
3. Nuggets leaking the fact that Griffin trade talks happened with the Clippers – technically true! – to excite their fan base and potential free agents considering whether or not to take Denver seriously
That said, the Nuggets have the assets to put together a fairly intriguing package.
Sharp-shooting combo forward Danilo Gallinari would be a great fit with the Clippers. Will Barton, Gary Harris and Wilson Chandler (though not this season) could also help. Kenneth Faried could approximate some of Griffin’s rim-running and lob-finishing skills if the Clippers want the option of using similar lineups to their current one. Joffrey Lauvergne could provide big-man depth behind DeAndre Jordan. All those players are locked up beyond this season, so the Clippers could form a new core and give it time to develop chemistry.
Denver also has three extra first-round picks (some of which could be very valuable), the right to swap first-rounders with the Knicks this year and all its own first-rounders. The win-now Clippers might not want rookies, but those picks could always be flipped for veterans. It’s about stockpiling assets, and the Clippers have already dealt one future first-rounder.
It still seems like the wrong time to trade Griffin, and I doubt the Clippers would do it. But if the Nuggets are willing to make a major offer, it’s worth actually listening.