Six-time All-Star Blake Griffin will become an unrestricted free agent after reaching a buyout deal with the Detroit Pistons, ESPN reported Friday.
Detroit was unable to broker a trade for the 31-year-old forward, who has averaged 12.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 31.3 minutes in 20 starts this season. He hasn’t played since Feb. 12. Griffin was owed $36.6 million for the remainder of this season, plus a $39 million player option for next season, prohibitive numbers for a franchise that is in rebuilding mode.
The Pistons entered the NBA All-Star break in last place in the Eastern Conference with a 10-26 record. Only the Minnesota Timberwolves (7-29) have fewer wins.
Multiple playoff contenders have reportedly expressed interest in signing Griffin. ESPN reported the Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers are among the teams expected to enter the bidding.
The No. 1 overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2009 draft, Griffin has career averages of 21.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 642 games with the Clippers and Pistons (2018-21). He was the Rookie of the Year in 2010-11. –Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)
The San Francisco Giants will look to further close the gap in their all-time rivalry with the visiting Oakland Athletics when they seek a second straight win Wednesday night in…
The Cleveland Guardians and Los Angeles Angels will play the third game of their four-game series Wednesday night in Anaheim, Calif., as the Guardians try to rediscover their offense. Cleveland’s…
The Los Angeles Kings are playoff-bound for the first time since the 2017-18 season. The Kings (43-27-10, 96 points) punched their postseason ticket Tuesday night when Dallas defeated Vegas in…
Guardians, slumping Franmil Reyes take on Shohei Ohtani’s Angels
Playoff-bound Kings seek to keep Kraken reeling
Six-man rotation kicks in as Astros, Cristian Javier face Rangers
Jason Robertson, Stars can lock up playoff berth vs. Coyotes