NBA Rumors: Could Toronto Raptors Acquire PF Blake Griffin From Clippers?
Blake Griffin has been rumored in quite a few trades over the last couple of weeks. He is likely the superstar most likely to be traded ahead of the 2016-17 NBA season, along with Russell Westbrook. There are a lot of teams interested, and quite a few teams could offer Doc Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers a deal that would at least force him to consider a trade.
According to a report from Sean Deveney of Sporting News, the Boston Celtics were very interested in trading for Griffin. Nothing ended up happening, but there were reported trade talks.
Outside of the Celtics, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been rumored to have an interest in acquiring Griffin. They would rather sign him in free agency next offseason, however, to help keep Westbrook around long-term.
Dan Favale of Bleacher Report has mentioned another trade idea for Griffin. He opined that the Toronto Raptors could land the star power forward in a blockbuster deal. It may be a bit far-fetched, but the Raptors would be as good of a landing spot for Griffin as any team could possibly be.
Last season with the Clippers, Griffin ended up averaging 21.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. He shot 49.9 percent from the field overall and knocked down 72.7 percent of his foul shots. Those numbers would make the Raptors a fairly even contender in the Eastern Conference with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
As good as the Cavaliers are, a “big three” of Kyle Lowry, DeMar Derozan, and Griffin would be tough to beat.
If the Raptors were able to acquire Griffin from the Clippers, they would need to find a way to lock him up to a long-term contract. He has the ability to test open free agency next offseason, and a one-year rental wouldn’t be worth the price tag for Toronto.
Toronto is projected to be a top-four team in the Eastern Conference once again this season. They may end up being the No. 2 seed again, although both the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers made major leaps forward this offseason. No matter where they finish in the playoff standings, they will be a serious threat in the playoffs whether they acquire Griffin or not.
Griffin has been taking his game to a new level over the last couple of seasons. He has been putting in a lot of hard work, and it has shown on the court.
We have previously mentioned here at the Inquisitr that the Cleveland Cavaliers could make a play for Griffin should they choose to do so. Kevin Love would be the main trade chip in return for Griffin, although that trade isn’t likely to happen at all at this point.
There are a lot of pieces that the Raptors could move for a player like Griffin. They could go so far as to offer a trade package around big man Jonas Valanciunas. Toronto can also offer pieces like Terrence Ross, picks, and possibly another player or two in return for Griffin.
Expect to hear more rumors throughout the remainder of the offseason regarding Griffin. Los Angeles is worried about losing him in free agency next offseason for nothing, which is sparking these trade talks. If a team like the Raptors can come in and impressive Rivers with an offer, anything could happen.
The Raptors may not end up being the best trade partner for the Clippers, but they should certainly show interest in acquiring Griffin.
Do you think the Toronto Raptors would be a good fit for Blake Griffin? What would it take for the Raptors to acquire Griffin from the Los Angeles Clippers? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!
[Photo by David Zalubowski/AP Images]
