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When a longtime All-Star takes on a assist function, there may be the danger of rejection. Consider Allen Iverson going to the Memphis Grizzlies. However when Blake Griffin signed with the Brooklyn Nets in March 2021, he did extra with much less taking part in time. Extra importantly for Brooklyn, he performed his function and made everybody completely happy (offer not valid in Detroit).
Griffin performed important minutes within the playoffs as a small-ball middle. The contribution was important as a result of the remainder of Brooklyn’s middle rotation was both small (Jeff Inexperienced), younger and banged up (Nicolas Claxton), or retired on energetic responsibility (DeAndre Jordan).
Griffin is working it again with the Nets on a one-year deal, possible at a cut price value. Griffin will do extra of the identical for Brooklyn, which is to say he’ll defend, rebound, and attempt to keep out of the best way of the scorers. It’s a dramatically completely different function for the six-time All-Star.
Blake Griffin spent a lot of his profession as a prime possibility
When his delayed rookie season started in 2010, Blake Griffin carried a big chunk of the load for the Los Angeles Clippers. He was the featured performer with the Lob Metropolis Clippers after Chris Paul arrived in 2011.
In every of his first 5 seasons, Griffin was an All-Star and made an All-NBA staff each season from 2011–15. Recognized for his dynamic dunking, he was a drive of nature for some time.
However then the accidents got here. Griffin missed 47 video games in 2015–16. Already out with a knee damage, he broke his hand punching a staff worker in January 2016. That in all probability didn’t make him very fashionable at firm occasions.
Accidents within the subsequent two seasons additionally slowed Griffin earlier than a commerce despatched him to the Detroit Pistons in January 2018.
The 2018–19 season was like a time machine for Griffin, who returned to All-NBA kind whereas main Detroit to the playoffs. However an injured knee late within the season spelled the start of the tip.
He performed solely 18 primarily ineffective video games for the Pistons in 2019–20. After capturing a woeful 36.5% in 20 games last season, Detroit purchased out the ultimate season and a half of the five-year, $173 million deal Griffin signed with the Clippers in 2017. Then it was off to Brooklyn.
Blake Griffin didn’t come to the Brooklyn Nets to be the star
After clearing waivers, Blake Griffin signed a veteran’s minimal contract to go to the Brooklyn Nets. With Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving already on board, Brooklyn wasn’t in search of All-Star Griffin. They had been in search of function participant Griffin. That’s one thing he hadn’t tried earlier than.
In 26 video games and 10 begins, Griffin took 7.3 photographs a recreation (his profession common is 15.8). He put up 10.0 factors, 4.7 rebounds, and a pair of.4 assists. Griffin additionally shot the ball properly, hitting 49.2% total and 38.3% from distance. He began each recreation in the course of the Nets’ playoff run, averaging 9.0 factors and 5.9 boards an evening.
On Aug. 2, the primary day of free company, Tim Bontemps of ESPN reported that Griffin had agreed to a one-year deal to return to Brooklyn. There isn’t any wage info but, however something the Nets pay Griffin will get shaved off the $29.7 million the Pistons owe him for subsequent season.
That enables the Nets to run it again with the identical beginning 5 they began the playoffs with earlier than accidents to Harden and Irving disrupted the rotation.
Change is coming to Brooklyn Nets
After their narrow seven-game loss to the NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks within the second spherical, the Brooklyn Nets opened the offseason as favorites to win the title subsequent season. The Big Three is back, Griffin returns, and sharp-shooter Joe Harris gives loads of spacing.
ESPN reported Brooklyn is protecting versatile guard Bruce Brown and bringing in veteran guard Patty Mills. The Mills transfer offsets the lack of Spencer Dinwiddie to the Washington Wizards in a sign-and-trade. Inexperienced additionally left, signing with the Denver Nuggets. The Nets hope veteran James Johnson can change Inexperienced.
Brooklyn also had a strong draft, including LSU scorer Cam Thomas and North Carolina huge man Day’Ron Scott.
Nets GM Sean Marks had a easy objective for the offseason, and he seems to have pulled it off, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post.
“We have now a reasonably good staff, and we’re not making an attempt to reinvent the wheel right here. We don’t wish to screw it up too unhealthy. We wish to add depth on the huge place. That’s going to be essential from a defensive and rebounding standpoint.”
Nets GM Sean Marks
Blake Griffin is again for an additional go-around. Now, if the Brooklyn Nets might solely discover somebody to tackle Jordan’s horrific contract.
Statistics courtesy of Basketball Reference.
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