According to reports from TNT’s David Aldridge, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Yahoo’s Shams Charania, the Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to trade Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons.
The Clippers have agreed to a deal to send Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 29, 2018
Sources: Clippers, Pistons are finalizing a deal that would send Blake Griffin, Willie Reed for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley and a draft pick. Multiple players involved have been informed of deal.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 29, 2018
Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley in the package going from Detroit to Clippers for Blake Griffin (@wojespn first with Griffin’s name in deal). Multiple sources say it’s happening.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) January 29, 2018
Reports indicate the deal sends the 5-time All-Star power forward, along with forward Brice Johnson, guard Willie Reed and a second round draft pick in exchange for guard Avery Bradley, forward Tobias Harris, center Boban Marjanovic, a first round pick and a 2019 second round pick.
According to Wojnarowski, the first round pick is 1-4 protected in years 2018,2019 and 2020; the pick is unprotected in 2021.
Sources: Protections on Detroit's 2018 first-round pick headed to Clippers — 2018: 1-4; 2019: 1-4; 2020: 1-4; 2021: unprotected. Detroit will send a 2019 second-round pick in the trade too.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 29, 2018
The move by Clippers is seemingly another move toward the simmering march to a new era for their franchise that began over the summer with the massive Chris Paul trade. Despite the uncertainty looming over the ballclub and weathering a spell of some dreadful play and key injuries, the Clippers have preserved to a 25-24 record, ninth in the Western Conference.
After a strong start,Detroit has stumbled to a 22-26 record, only reaching ninth in the Eastern Conference. Pairing Griffin with center Andre Drummond on the interior along with point guard Reggie Jackson leads to hopes for an ascension up the Eastern Conference ranks.