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Pistons land Clippers’ Griffin in blockbuster deal
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The Detroit Pistons shook up their struggling roster in dramatic fashion, acquiring star forward Blake Griffin in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Pistons announced the deal early yesterday morning. Detroit sent forward Tobias Harris, guard Avery Bradley and center Boban Marjanovic to Los Angeles, with the Clippers also receiving draft picks. Detroit also got forward Brice Johnson and center Willie Reed in the deal.
“We are serious about winning, and this is a major move to improve our team,” Pistons owner Tom Gores said in a statement. “Blake Griffin is one of the NBA’s elite players, and when you get an opportunity to add that kind of talent, you take it.”
Griffin, a former NBA rookie of the year, is averaging 22.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 33 games this season, but the Clippers have been plagued by injuries and are ninth in the Western Conference standings.
For his career, Griffin has averaged 21.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
Detroit is scuffling as well. The Pistons have lost eight straight heading into last night’s game against Cleveland.
The 28-year-old Griffin has been the face of the Clippers, and last July, he agreed to a US$171 million, five-year deal, ending a brief flirtation with free agency. He told his teammates, coach Doc Rivers and owner Steve Ballmer, “I want my legacy to be a Clipper.”
The deal didn’t have a no-trade clause.
Griffin’s career has been beset by injuries. After being drafted with the first pick in the NBA draft in 2009, Griffin broke his left kneecap, had surgery, and missed the entire 2009-10 season. Since then, he has missed time with back spasms, a torn left quad, a broken hand, a staph infection, knee surgery, a broken toe, a sprained left MCL and a concussion.
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