News came out on Monday that the Pistons were hoping to unload Avery Bradley at the trade deadline, but few figured that would lead to Detroit being involved in blockbuster trade negotiations.
Apparently that is now the case as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (and yes we did a double take to make sure this was the real Woj) reported on Monday evening that the Pistons and Clippers were in “serious talks” about a trade involving former All-Star forward Blake Griffin.
The Clippers and Pistons are engaged in serious talks on a deal centered on All-Star forward Blake Griffin, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 29, 2018
Griffin makes $29.5 million this season so the Pistons would have to put an awful lot into a deal to bring him back, considering Avery Bradley (who alone isn’t close to enough to land Griffin) makes just $8.8 million on an expiring deal. Tobias Harris would make sense in a deal, making $16 million, along with some filler.
According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor and Vincent Goodwill of NBC Chicago, the deal being discussed does indeed involve Bradley and Harris, along with a future first-round pick and the legend Boban Marjanovic.
The deal I heard that's being discussed is Blake Griffin for Avery Bradley, Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic, and a first-round pick. https://t.co/D9Um2s2fLe
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) January 29, 2018
Heard it's a form of Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, a first-rounder and Boban Marjanovic to the Clippers for Blake Griffin
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) January 29, 2018
It’d be bizarre to see Griffin be the one dealt after so many DeAndre Jordan rumors have been swirling, but a Griffin-Andre Drummond pairing in Detroit would be fascinating. Considering the pitch made by the Clippers to Griffin this offseason was all about being a “Clipper for life” this would also be a staggering change in their approach to the future.
For the Pistons, the deal would certainly prove they are looking to contend immediately for the playoffs, but if you thought Detroit was capped out now, add in a deal that has four years and $140 million remaining on it after this season ends. It’s a major risk-reward deal for both sides and if it goes through it could kick off a trade deadline season filled with fireworks.
Shortly after the first reports came out, the deal was done, according to Woj. For full details on the blockbuster trade and what it means for both teams’ cap situations moving forward, go here.
The Clippers and Pistons have agreed on a deal to trade Blake Griffin for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, a first-round and a second-round draft pick, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 29, 2018
Clippers are includig Brice Johnson and Willie Reed in the trade, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 29, 2018
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