The Detroit Pistons and Blake Griffin are expected to part ways
By Bob Heyrman
It appears forward Blake Griffin has played his last game with the Detroit Pistons. The gut punches continue for Detroit sports fans; Matthew Stafford, Derrick Rose, and now Blake Griffin.
After Rose and the Detroit Pistons decided it would be best for both if they’d part ways, star forward Blake Griffin chose to follow suit. It’s sad realizing Griffin won’t again dawn a Pistons’ jersey, but it’s clearly best for both knowing Detroit is committed to a wholesale rebuild under Troy Weaver.
Per ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski Griffin will sit out until the two sides can agree on the framework of a buyout or potential trade. A trade seems extremely far-fetched with Griffin due to earn nearly $39-million next season.
ESPN story on Blake Griffin and Pistons agreeing that he will be out of the lineup until the franchise and his reps can work through a resolution on his playing future: https://t.co/EHsnV9sED8
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 15, 2021
The Pistons are firmly committed to getting younger. With the emergence of Jerami Grant, Josh Jackson, along with rookies Saddiq Bey, and Isaiah Stewart, tweaks to the rotation needed to be addressed sooner than later.
In recent weeks it had a feel that head coach Dwane Casey had been playing Griffin prominent minutes because of the name on the back of the jersey and his tremendous body of work throughout his career, not for his production on the court.
It’s clear the 31-year old’s best days are firmly behind him, but he can still be an efficient role player and depth scorer in the right situation.
The six-time All-Star and former rookie of the year hopes to land with a contender in an attempt to win his first NBA Title.
The terms of an expected buyout between Blake Griffin and the Detroit Pistons will be fascinating.
With Griffin hoping to finally have a shot at that elusive title, an opening with a contender seemingly just opened.
Anthony Davis' MRI revealed a calf strain and a re-aggravation of the right Achilles tendonosis, source said. Once Davis returns to Los Angeles, he'll immediately get another evaluation there. It is extremely unlikely Davis returns to lineup prior to ASG break ending March 10.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 15, 2021
Quickly connecting the dots, Griffin spent the first eight years of his career in Los Angeles with the Clippers after being selected first overall in the 2009 NBA Draft. After averaging 21.6 points per game with L.A, Griffin single-handedly put the Pistons’ franchise on his back in 2018-19, dragging Detroit to a playoff birth as an eighth seed.
Griffin averaged a spectacular career-high 24.5 points per game and gave it all he had to get the organization into the playoffs but didn’t have anything left to give in the postseason.
Griffin, beaten down injured, played in just two playoff games (both home games) of the four Pistons’ losses at Milwaukee’s hands. Despite being swept, Griffin became a part of Detroit that season, something that will never be forgotten.
I remember Griffin leaving the court, limping his way back to the Detroit Pistons bench in game four to an erupting, appreciative Detroit crowd. These types of performances are and will always be appreciated by this hard-working city.
Don’t for one second consider this a bad trade for the Pistons. Owner Tom Gores was trying to go all-in pairing Griffin with Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson, hoping to build a playoff team that could potentially get hot and make a postseason run. Things didn’t work out, but Griffin was everything and more, a real pros’ pro.
Next. Saddiq Bey looks to stay hot after record-breaking night. dark
Through 20 games in 2020-21, Griffin has averaged a career-low of 12.3 points, accompanied by 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists while playing 31.3 minutes per game.