Blake Griffin is about to be a free agent, but the Los Angeles Clippers aren’t giving up on Lob City. Clippers executives still hope they can convince Griffin to remain in LA, despite the fact that they’ve already traded away Chris Paul.
Paul’s move to Houston made many believe Griffin will also seek success elsewhere as the Clippers enter a full rebuild, but LA executive vice president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank told USA Today on Wednesday that the team is committed to keeping Griffin in LA.
“We look at (Griffin) as Clipper royalty,” Clippers executive vice president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday during a visit on the NBA A to Z podcast. “We’re going to do everything we can to try to keep Blake a Clipper.”
Where Griffin lands might be one of the most interesting results of this free agency period. There’s plenty of interest in the power forward who has spent his entire career with the Clippers. Griffin opted out of his deal and could get a five-year max contract with the Clippers if he chooses to come back. Chris Paul was kind to the team in choosing to sign with LA and get traded to Houston instead of just joining them in free agency, but Griffin is under no obligation to be kind to the organization.
Isaiah Thomas and the Celtics are interested in Griffin, as are the Oklahoma City Thunder. But if Frank is speaking for the organization, it’s unlikely he will be considered “royalty” in the same way as he currently is in Los Angeles.
