Los Angeles Lakers: Reasons for and against signing Blake Griffin

By Jason Reed | Mar 5, 2021

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 13: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons looks to the bench during a time out in the fourth quarter of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Little Caesars Arena on January 13, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. Milwaukee Bucks defeated Detroit Pistons 110-101. 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 Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

3 of 4

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Reasons against the Los Angeles Lakers signing Blake Griffin:

Quite frankly, there is only one real reason against the Los Angeles Lakers signing Blake Griffin that has been cited by those that do not want to see the Lakers bring in the former All-Pro player.

And it is rather simple.

Blake Griffin is not that great of an NBA player anymore

If we solely look at the numbers then this is true. Blake Griffin has battled injuries in recent years and his play has taken a hit as a result. He has also tried to morph his game to be more in-line with the evolving NBA, which has made his leff efficient as a result.

Griffin is a player who would have been perfect in the ’90s and if he stayed healthy he would have been a bonafide Hall of Famer in that era. Instead, he has been a shell of his former self at just 31.

Griffin is averaging 12.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game this season. He is taking 6.2 threes per game and is only shooting 31.5%. His combined eFG% over the last two seasons is 42.9%… that is horrendous.

He has been in the negative in each of the last two seasons in value over replacement player (38 combined games) and has a combined Box Plus/Minus of -3.3 over the last two seasons.

Griffin ranks 282nd out of 307 players (with at least 1,000 minutes played) in that statistic over that stretch. That is really bad.

Griffin’s level of play alone is seemingly enough of an argument for the Lakers to pass on him and instead use the roster spot elsewhere… so should they?

Home/Lakers News