The Los Angeles Clippers have traded Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons, according to multiple reports citing unnamed sources Monday. The Clippers also will send Brice Johnson and Willie Reed to Detroit for Avery Bradley, Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic and three draft picks.
ESPN first reported the trade.
Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, was not available for immediate comment.
Griffin, a five-time All-Star power forward, signed a five-season, $173-million contract with the Clippers last summer. He and the team said at the time that he would be the first Clipper For Life, and it was likely he would to be the first in the franchise’s inglorious history to have his jersey retired.
Despite a string of injuries that included a sprained knee and a concussion suffered by Griffin, the Clippers have remained in the hunt for a Western Conference playoff berth. They were one game out of the eighth and final spot in the conference standings with a 25-24 record.
The Clippers made Griffin the No. 1 overall pick out of Oklahoma in 2009. After sitting out all of the 2009-10 season because of a knee injury, Griffin went on to win NBA Rookie if the Year honors after a stellar 2010-11 season in which he averaged 22.5 points.
Griffin averaged 22.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists this season for the Clippers.
Further moves are possible. The league’s trade deadline is Feb. 8, and center DeAndre Jordan has been rumored to be the subject trade talks with several teams, including the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers.
Please check back for updates.
