This week, Blake Griffin had his contract bought out with the Detroit Pistons and agreed to join the Brooklyn Nets. Just two years ago, Griffin joining the Nets would have given Brooklyn a “Big Four” of Griffin, Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving. However, Griffin is far from the player that he was two years ago and in no way would have Detroit bought out Griffin’s contract when he was an All-Star and eventually named to Third Team All-NBA.
Multiple injuries and surgeries have me doubting whether Griffin can be a valuable addition to Brooklyn. In 20 games this season, Griffin is averaging a career low 12.3 points a game. He is shooting just .315 from three (not very good) and .429 from two (really bad, especially from a power forward). The 2011 Slam Dunk Champion has attempted zero dunks all year. I don’t mean to spend too much time slamming Griffin’s season, but he just hasn’t been very good.
Brooklyn’s supporting cast has been very interesting thus far. Griffin’s former teammate in Detroit, Bruce Brown, has transformed himself into a 6’4” Power Forward/Center in what has been a fascinating player transformation. Griffin’s former Clipper teammate, DeAndre Jordan, has not been great but is their current Center. Jeff Green has been a good small ball Center and Joe Harris is maybe the best shooter in the NBA. Nic Claxton, who did not play at the beginning of the season, has played well in five games. Where Griffin gets playing time is something I am not sure of at this point.
While walking my dog this afternoon and thinking about Blake, one player who popped into my head was Bob McAdoo. McAdoo was a star for the Buffalo Braves (now Los Angeles Clippers) for much of the mid 70s, averaging 28.2 points per game during the five seasons he played there. After being traded to the New York Knicks during the 1976-77, his career floundered. McAdoo would bounce from the Knicks to the Celtics to the Pistons to the Nets. His career appeared to be in shambles prior to being traded to the Lakers during the 1981-82 season. It was here, in a much more limited role, that McAdoo flourished. Coming off the bench, he was an integral part of two Laker title teams in 1982 and 1985. He was no longer an All-Star but because he had other stars around him, his game was allowed to flourish.
This is the best case scenario that I see for Griffin. Like McAdoo, he will have other stars to play around him. He will also no longer need to play 30 minutes per night like he was in Detroit. If the Nets can find 15-20 minutes per game for Blake, maybe he will find something of a career rejuvenation in Steve Nash’s offense. The days of jumping over cars in dunk contests is long gone. He cannot regain his youth that led to so many highlight reel dunks. But maybe he can find some of his 2019 self in a limited role. Maybe not. The best case scenario is Blake Griffin is a signing that gives them a small boost in their quest to win a championship. At worst, it doesn’t work and the Nets still have a terrific offense and a great shot to make the NBA Finals.
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