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Why Blake Griffin joining the Los Angeles Lakers is possible

By Jason Reed

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 28: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons tries to get around LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Little Caesars Arena on January 28, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 28: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons tries to get around LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Little Caesars Arena on January 28, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. The odds of a team taking on Blake Griffin’s contract is slim to none

The Detroit Pistons obviously want to trade Griffin instead of buying him out. This would allow the team to at least get something in return and not have to pay Griffin to not be on the team anymore.

Granted, they would save some money on a buyout, especially if Griffin is willing to give up some money to get out of Detroit. They still would be paying a pretty penny to get rid of him and any value in a trade is better than nothing.

The problem for Detroit is that Griffin’s salary is so large that the team is going to be very hard-pressed to find a trade that works financially. Griffin is making $36.5 million this season. That is not an easy salary to match.

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There is one team that I could see trading for Blake Griffin and even that is very unlikely — the Golden State Warriors. Golden State could trade Andrew Wiggins for Blake Griffin straight up and probably get some draft capital in return for taking on Griffin and sending young talent.

But that goes against the purpose of Detroit trading him. They would not be getting anything valuable in return, not even salary relief. They are not going to trade for Andre Drummond and maybe they would be willing to add capital in a trade for someone like Otto Porter to free up salary-cap space, but I doubt it.

Simply put: a trade seems very unlikely, making it more likely that Detroit buys Griffin out (which is absolutely a possibility). Enter Rob Pelinka.

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