NBA Trade Rumors: Blake Griffin Could Be Traded To One Of These Four Western Conference Teams
The LA Clippers may have thought that Blake Griffin was going to be one of the franchise guys that grew old with the team and stuck around… kind of like Tim Duncan with the San Antonio Spurs. Now, some injuries and an ugly off-court incident have him at the center of NBA trade rumors as next month’s deadline approaches. Speculation is swirling, and there are four teams that could truly end up being landing spots for Griffin, and keep him in the Western Conference.
Upon reports coming out that Griffin could be traded, it was instantly thought he would go to a huge market. Some thought he may stay in town and be traded to the LA Lakers while others believed he would land with the New York Knicks.
ESPN has reported that there is an ongoing investigation into the altercation between Griffin and the Clippers’ assistant equipment manager, Matias Testi. Griffin suffered a spiral fracture of the fourth metacarpal in his right hand and could be out for two months.
That said, rumors of him being traded away have increased in strength, but where could Griffin possibly land? Fansided has come up with a number of possible options, and four of them are in the Western Conference.
Speaking of the San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan really isn’t going to be around much longer as he’s in his 19th season and has been dealing with a number of injuries. Duncan hasn’t actually played a full 82-game season since 2001, and he’s played less than 80 games in each of the last eight seasons.
A straight-up swap between the Clippers and Spurs involving Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge would benefit both teams. The thing is, the Spurs aren’t overly desperate, at least, not nearly as much as the Clippers are to get something like this done.
A proposed trade with the Denver Nuggets is a bit more far-fetched and one that may be one of the farthest stretches out of these four possibilities.
Fansided proposes the Nuggets getting Griffin and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute in exchange for the Clippers receiving Will Barton, Joffrey Lauvergne, and Danilo Gallinari. The Nuggets may also throw a draft pick into the mix.
The New Orleans Pelicans have been looking to make some trades, and now they’re starting to hit a stride. They’ve won seven of their last 10 games and are just three games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Ryan Anderson has been on the block for about the past month, and he would likely be included along with Tyreke Evans and a possible draft pick in a trade for Blake Griffin. Instantly, the New Orleans would jump into the playoff picture with this move.
If a trade could be agreed upon with the Phoenix Suns, Markieff Morris may finally get his wish to be traded. The proposed trade has Morris, Mirza Teletovic, P.J. Tucker, and a draft pick or two heading to the LA Clippers while Griffin and Luc Richard Mbah A Moute would head to Phoenix.
All of these trades that could get Blake Griffin away from the LA Clippers seem feasible, even if the one with the Nuggets is a bit out there. Honestly, the one out of these four that seems the most reasonable is that with the New Orleans Pelicans.
SB Nation thinks that before the mid-February NBA trade deadline, Griffin will end up with a team in the Eastern Conference. The top four choices there are with the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, or New York Knicks, but those are also all speculation.
Blake Griffin would instantly be one of the biggest targets if he ever landed in free agency, but the LA Clippers may not wait that long to unload him. The NBA trade rumors now have him linked to at least 10 teams, and if he stays in the Western Conference, he could come back to haunt the Clippers quite often.
[Image by Harry How/Getty Images]
