Former Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin to chase NBA title with Brooklyn Nets: Report

Detroit Free Press

Marlowe Alter | Detroit Free Press

Blake Griffin is joining the star-studded Brooklyn Nets.

Two days after agreeing to a buyout with the Detroit Pistons, Griffin cleared waivers Sunday, and Shams Charania of The Athletic/Stadium reports he is expected to sign with the Nets.

“Interested teams have expected Griffin to pursue a championship in Brooklyn alongside Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden,” Charania wrote.

The Nets (24-13) are second in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind Philadelphia, and have a superstar trio of Harden, Durant and Irving. All three made the 2021 All-Star team, with Durant and Irving as starters.

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The Nets lack big man depth behind center DeAndre Jordan, though second-year center Nicolas Claxton has played well recently in return from injury. They have utilized power forward Jeff Green as a small-ball center and Durant could be an option as well.

Griffin’s passing will be useful, but his 3-point shot has fallen off since left knee surgeries in 2019 and 2020: He’s shooting 28.1% on 3s, 66-for-235, in 38 games combined last season and this season. His spot-out shooting will be key, with him filling an off-ball role off the bench. His lack of mobility and athleticism defensively is also an issue, whether he were to play the four or the five spot. He played 93% of his minutes at power forward this season, according to Cleaning The Glass. He has not dunked in a game since 2019.

Griffin reportedly gave back $13.3 million of the approximate $56 million he was owed from the Pistons for the rest of this season and next season; he had a $39 million player option for 2021-22 he was sure to exercise. The buyout allowed him to go on waivers and become an unrestricted free agent when no team bid for him.

A six-time All-Star, Griffin’s career has been sidetracked by left knee injuries and poor play. In 20 games with the Pistons this season, he averaged 12.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists, shooting 36.5% and 31.5% from 3-point range.

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The rebuilding Pistons (10-26) are second-worst in the NBA, and have several young forwards who need more minutes, but were stuck behind Griffin.

Meanwhile, Griffin, who turns 32 on March 16, wanted to play playoff basketball.

“We wanted to make sure everybody is going in the right direction, and it became clear that Blake wanted to play meaningful games and he’s worked so hard to give some back,” Pistons general manager Troy Weaver told the Free Press in February, after the two sides agreed Griffin would be away from the team while a resolution was worked on. “While we want to take care of him and get him in a situation where he can play those meaningful games, play for a contender, it also helps us to continue our restoring and see our other guys and get them opportunities in actual games to help their development.” 

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The Pistons acquired Griffin ahead of the 2018 trade deadline, sending Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic and future first- and second-round draft picks to the Los Angeles Clippers. 

 

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