Blake Griffin traded from Clippers to Pistons in blockbuster deal, sources say
The Clippers will receive Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, and a first- and second-round draft pick, league sources said. The Clippers are also sending Brice Johnson and Willie Reed to Detroit alongside Griffin, sources said.
Protections on Detroit's 2018 first-round pick include 1-4 in 2018, 2019 and 2020, and unprotected in 2021, per sources.
Talks on the blockbuster trade began six days ago, but accelerated in the past 24 hours, according to league sources. The framework of a deal had been in place since early afternoon.
Sources say Los Angeles will continue to discuss dealing Lou Williams and DeAndre Jordan, with a plan to focus on young players and draft picks while competing for a playoff spot this season.
On July 1, Griffin reached an agreement on a five-year, $171 million deal with the Clippers. Griffin did not receive a no-trade clause as part of the new contract.
A free agent in the 2017 offseason, Griffin met with team owner Steve Ballmer, president and coach Doc Rivers, special consultant Jerry West and several players at Staples Center in a celebration of his career. At the end of the two-hour fete, Griffin rose and spoke, telling teammates, his coach and the owner, "I want my legacy to be a Clipper."
This season, Griffin is averaging 22.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 33 games for the 25-24 Clippers, who are in ninth place in the Western Conference, 14½ games behind the Golden State Warriors entering Monday.
His career averages are 21.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
Griffin's career has been marred by injuries. After being drafted with the first pick in the 2009 NBA draft by the Clippers, Griffin broke his left kneecap, had surgery and missed the entire 2009-10 season.
The following season, officially his rookie year, Griffin was selected as an All-Star, won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year.
Since then, he has missed time with back spasms, a torn left quad, a broken hand, a staph infection, right knee surgery, a broken toe, a sprained left MCL and a concussion. He missed 21 games in 2017 and 47 in 2016.
Of the players going to the Clippers, Bradley is considered a good defender at guard. He is averaging 15.0 points per game and is in the last year of his deal that pays him $8.8 million. He'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Harris is averaging 18.1 points per game and 5.1 rebounds.
Author: Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN
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