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Reaction To The Blake Griffin Trade

January 29th, 2018 at 10:45pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Pistons and Clippers agreed to the biggest blockbuster trade of the season on Monday, with star forward Blake Griffin as the centerpiece.

Here’s how some top columnists from around the country view the deal:

Acquiring Griffin is more likely to be the beginning of the end for Stan Van Gundy’s regime with the Pistons than it is to turn the franchise around, Kelvin Pelton of ESPN opines. Detroit will hard-pressed to make any moves after the season because Griffin’s contact will push the team close to the luxury-tax line, Pelton points out. The Pistons also weakened themselves at the wing spots by trading Avery Bradley, while the Clippers added another quality starter with an affordable contract in Tobias Harris, Pelton continues. Trading Griffin also gives the Clippers a better chance at creating max cap space next summer to pursue top free agents, though trading a star player at the beginning of a long-term deal won’t help the Clips build trust with those free agents, Pelton adds.
The Clippers have positioned themselves to be major players in the 2019 free agent market, according to Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post. Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, Klay Thompson, Kevin Love and Kemba Walker could be available and the team will have just one guaranteed contract on the books for the 2019/20 season, Bontemps notes. LeBron James and Paul George could also be available if they sign one-year deals with their current squads, Bontemps adds.
The Pistons paid a king’s ransom for Griffin and it’s unlikely to work out in their favor, Sean Deveney of the Sporting News opines. Griffin’s injury history is a major concern, particularly his left knee issues, and he has missed one-third of his team’s games since the 2013-14 season, Deveney notes. He’s also a questionable fit next to Andre Drummond, since Griffin is a subpar three-point shooter and has also struggled with his mid-range game this season.
Detroit hasn’t landed a big-time free agent since Chauncey Billups in 2002, so the Pistons can only acquire an All-Star talent through trades, according to Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. The Pistons need Griffin to make the playoffs, while the first-rounder is the biggest piece the Clippers landed. That likely gives L.A. two first-rounders in the next draft during a time when picks are highly coveted, the USA Today duo adds.
The Clippers clearly seem to believe they can make a serious run at LeBron James when he enters free agency in July and this trade will facilitate that goal, Marc Stein of the New York Times tweets. Potential trades involving DeAndre Jordan and Lou Williams will be aimed in helping them in that quest, Stein adds.

Clippers Looking To Move Jordan, Williams

January 29th, 2018 at 6:36pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Clippers will continue to pursue trades for DeAndre Jordan and Lou Williams following their blockbuster deal with the Pistons, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets. The Clippers shipped power forward Blake Griffin to the Pistons in a stunning move on Monday involving five other players and draft picks.

The Clippers are seeking young players and draft picks for Jordan and Williams, according to Wojnarowski. However, the team will also continue to discuss contract extensions with those players if the price is right, Wojnarowski continues.

Despite trading Griffin, the team doesn’t want to tank and go into full rebuild mode, Wojnarowski adds. Their objectives are to stay competitive, as they demonstrated by obtaining two starters for Griffin; acquiring more young players and draft picks; and creating payroll flexibility (Twitter links).

Jordan, who reportedly hasn’t come close to an extension agreement, has a player option on the final year of his contract next season worth $24.2MM. He’s averaging 11.9 PPG and 14.8 RPG this season. Williams has an expiring $7MM contract. He’s enjoying a career year, averaging 23.5 PPG and 5.2 APG. As of a week ago, Williams hadn’t made any progress regarding an extension.

The Cavs are reportedly one of the teams interested in both players.

Clippers, DeAndre Jordan Not Close To Extension

January 29th, 2018 at 11:26am CST by Luke Adams

Clippers center DeAndre Jordan has recently had dinner with team owner Steve Ballmer to discuss his future, and has also spoken to the club a few times about an extension, writes Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. However, according to Turner, the two sides aren’t close to a new deal.

Jordan, 29, can become an unrestricted free agent this July if he decides to turn down his player option for 2018/19. With the Clippers hanging around the playoff race in the Western Conference, Jordan’s uncertain future looms large over the club’s potential direction at the trade deadline — if extension talks are unproductive and the front office is worried about losing Jordan for nothing in the offseason, a trade is plausible.

The deadline for a contract extension is still a ways off, as Jordan and the Clippers could reach an agreement anytime before June 30. It’s also possible that the veteran center will opt into the final year of his deal this summer if he’s unsure about his ability to get a deal on the open market that’s more player-friendly than his $24MM+ option. Still, the February 8 trade deadline is an important date for the Clippers, since it could represent the club’s last chance to get assets in return for Jordan.

For his part, Jordan – who recently established a new record for most games played as a Clipper – hopes to spend the rest of his career with the franchise, according to Turner. However, the big man acknowledges that the decision isn’t just his to make.

“Whatever they decide to do, they decide to do,” Jordan said of the Clippers. “I can’t control that. I can only play basketball and that’s what I do. My love for the game will be wherever. For me, the most important thing is being wanted and appreciated where you are. And wherever that is, I’m going to be happy. And if it’s here, that’s amazing. If not, then it’s a business sometimes.”

Williams Snubbed Again; Jordan Sets Franchise Record

January 27th, 2018 at 10:58pm CST by Arthur Hill

Clippers guard Lou Williams was passed over for the All-Star Game for a second time today when commissioner Adam Silver picked Oklahoma City’s Paul George to replace the injured DeMarcus Cousins. Williams, averaging a career-best 23.6 points per game after being traded to L.A. last summer, offered his reaction on social media, first tweeting, “What’s crazier than 1 snub??? 2,” then offering a more philosophical response. “Y’all talking to a guy that’s been coming off the bench 7 plus years,” he wrote. “Lol i ain’t hurt about no all star snub. It’s dope to be in the conversation. I wanted it just to represent the underdogs. Not for validation.” (Twitter link)
There’s no guarantee DeAndre Jordan will be with the Clippers past the February 8 trade deadline, but if does leave, it will be with the franchise record for games played, writes Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. Jordan set the mark of 716 Friday night in Memphis. “It’s been a long journey,” he said. “Coming here when I was 19 and not playing hardly at all my first year, it’s been a cool ride though. They stuck with me and let me grow into a better player and person. Making history is always great, whatever you’re doing.”

Lou Williams Emerges As Leader For Clippers

January 26th, 2018 at 8:29pm CST by Austin Kent

The Clippers have relied heavily on offseason addition Lou Williams off the court as well as on it, Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times writes. In addition to posting career bests statistically, the veteran has been a leader in the locker room.

“He’s been wonderful off the floor. And what I like most about Lou is he was the best when we were the worst,” Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said, referring to the team’s nine-game losing streak in November. “I’m not talking about his scoring. I’m talking about his word and his actions. I thought he was the absolute best when we were at our absolute worst. And that says a lot about a teammate.”

The guard, who has been flipped to a contender at the deadline twice in his career, is aware that his name has come up in trade speculation this season but is eager to remain with the Clippers and build a contender in Los Angeles.

Lou Williams No Longer A Reasonable Target For Celtics

January 24th, 2018 at 9:46pm CST by Arthur Hill

Lou Williams seemed like a reasonable target for the Celtics a few weeks ago, but his recent scoring surge and the Clippers’ rise in the Western Conference standings has put him out of their reach, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston. Williams is posting career-best numbers at age 31, averaging 23.3 points per game and shooting better than 40% on 3-pointers. L.A. has climbed back to .500 after a slow start and is just a half-game behind Denver for the final playoff spot.

Rockets Not Interested In Moving Capela For Jordan

January 23rd, 2018 at 10:58am CST by Luke Adams

Members of the Clippers and Rockets discussed the possibility of a DeAndre Jordan deal. However, those talks went nowhere after Clint Capela‘s name came up, since Houston doesn’t want to move Capela, writes Begley.

[SOURCE LINK]

No Progress On Extension For Clippers, Lou Williams

January 23rd, 2018 at 9:53am CST by Dana Gauruder

Combo guard Lou Williams hasn’t made any progress with the Clippers regarding an extension, Sam Amick of USA Today reports. Williams is enjoying a career year and has an expiring contract that could draw interest from numerous contenders, but it sounds like the veteran wouldn’t mind staying put and reaching an agreement to stay in L.A. “I’m putting everything on the line out here for this organization, and you know the season I’m having I would like to be rewarded for it and just appreciated,” he told Amick.

Trail Blazers Interested In DeAndre Jordan

January 22nd, 2018 at 1:33pm CST by Luke Adams

Add the Trail Blazers to the list of teams with interest in potential trade candidate DeAndre Jordan, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times, who reports (via Twitter) that Portland is among the clubs that have tried to engage the Clippers in trade discussions.

Besides the Blazers, the Cavaliers and Bucks are a couple of the other teams that are reportedly interested in making a play for Jordan. However, league sources tell Stein (Twitter link) that the Clippers have yet to receive a trade offer for Jordan that they’ve found “seriously tempting.”

While Jordan will be eligible to reach unrestricted free agency this summer and the Clippers won’t want to risk losing him for nothing, the team also won’t want to throw in the towel on the playoff hunt — L.A. currently holds the No. 8 seed in the West. Additionally, there’s no guarantee that this will be the final year of Jordan’s contract, since he has a $24MM+ player option for next season that isn’t necessarily a lock to be declined.

Of course, potential uncertainty about that option decision may cloud Jordan’s value on the trade market — some teams may not want to acquire him as a rental, while others may not want to be locked into that $24MM+ commitment for next season.

Jordan would be an interesting target for the Trail Blazers, who currently have Jusuf Nurkic manning the middle. Nurkic has been solid at center for Portland, but Jordan has a more extensive track record and is viewed as a stronger rim protector and rebounder. It’s also worth noting that current Blazers president Neil Olshey was part of the Clippers’ front office when the team drafted Jordan in 2008.

If the Clips and Blazers were to negotiate a deal involving Jordan, Portland would likely need to include at least one of Evan Turner, Maurice Harkless, and Meyers Leonard in order to make the salaries work. All three of those players are under contract through 2019/20.

Clippers Notes: Williams, Jordan, Rivers, Roster, Future

January 21st, 2018 at 2:00pm CST by marksuleymanov

Clippers guard Lou Williams has led the NBA in scoring since December 22, helping his team stay in playoff contention. As coaches decide on reserves for the All-Star game rosters, Williams feels his recent play has earned him a spot, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times writes.

“Naw, I’ll be proud if I make it,” Williams said. “Honestly, I deserve it. I rarely speak about myself because I’ve never set personal goals. Being an All-Star wasn’t even on my radar this year. But with what this team has been through this year with injuries, with so many different lineups and still having an opportunity to compete for the playoffs and to put ourselves over .500 at this point, I think I’ve got something to do with that.”

Williams is averaging career highs in several categories, including PPG (23.1), APG (5.0), three-point percentage (41.2%). While the Clippers remain in the Western Conference playoff picture, Williams has been mentioned as a potential trade piece.

Check out other news out of the Clippers organization below:

DeAndre Jordan‘s name has floated all season as a possible – if not probable – trade candidate ahead of the February 8 trade deadline. The Clippers center, however, is proud of his tenure with the franchise and the longevity of his time in Los Angeles, Jeff Miller of the Orange County Register writes.
Coming out of a tumultuous game between the Clippers and Rockets in which things got physical on and off the court, Austin Rivers‘ reputation among his peers has taken a hit. However, the Clippers guard addressed those criticisms in an interview with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, who detailed Rivers’ account of the incident and his relationship with Rockets veteran Trevor Ariza.
After that win over the Rockets, the Clippers seem to have found their identity as a team, but ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz questions how long that can last.
Mike Sorensen of Deseret News writes about how the Clippers team that faced the Jazz recently is unrecognizable from the squad that battled Utah in a memorable seven-game playoff series last season.