Rumors about Blake Griffin's possible trade in the NBA aren't stopping anytime soon. Recent reports are claiming that the Los Angeles Clippers power forward is currently being pursued by multiple teams: the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and Orlando Magic.
Clippers president and head coach Doc Rivers said the team would want Griffin to retire as one of them, according to Basketball Insiders. The Clippers, however, is in need of a notable upgrade now that star guard Chris Paul could part ways with the team next season to pursue free agency.
Griffin and Paul's relationship is strained due to the latter's "stern leadership and overbearing obsession with winning," CBS Sports noted. Rumors about Griffin's possible trade first surfaced when he suffered a quad injury and while nursing that damage, punched an assistant equipment manager's face.
The upgrade the Clippers is looking for could prioritize Paul's continued involvement with the team. It means losing Griffin, who also has the option to be an unrestricted free agent next year.
If it comes to that, there's a huge chance that the Clippers would trade him instead of allowing him to sign with another team. Speculations claimed that the Thunder is the most suitable trading partner for the Clippers for Griffin.
Russell Westbrook recently signed a contract extension with the Thunder, but the team also happened to lose Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors. The Thunder may be looking for another player to pair up with Westbrook after his successful team-up with Durant. And Griffin's abilities may be a better match to Westbrook than Durant's, propelling the Clippers to become a challenging force in the West that could shake up the Warriors.
Griffin growing up in Oklahoma City is another reason why he could be a perfect fit for the Thunder. CBS Sports wrote that the Thunder could provide him "a quieter, basketball-focused environment" after being under the spotlight in the Clippers.
This way, Griffin could still pursue his commitments in show business in the summer. Fox recently awarded a pilot presentation order for "Okies of Bel Air," an animated comedy that Griffin executive produced and which also reflects some aspects of the player's life, Deadline reported. Griffin also does stand-up comedy shows.
Aside from the Thunder, the Celtics, Bulls, and Magic are also looking to sign Griffin if he comes to the open market next year. Basketball Insiders reported that the Celtics "have long had eyes for Griffin," while the Bulls and Magic are also aiming to "make a hard push" for the 27-year-old player with their tradable assets.
