In an offseason of change, Blake Griffin re-signed on a five-year, $173 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Clippers. Without Chris Paul and JJ Redick, Griffin and DeAndre Jordan are looking to lead their team into the new era.

With training camp underway, head coach Doc Rivers discussed how he will utilize Griffin for the upcoming 2017-18 NBA season according to Associated Press:

“There will be times when Blake is the tallest guy on the floor,” coach Doc Rivers said. “We want him to be an aggressive player, an attack player.

“He'll bring the ball up at times. He'll be one of the guys we use as a facilitator.”

Griffin acknowledges things will be different without one of the best point guards in the game:

“We're going to be a different team,” Griffin said. “It's just the nature of getting so many new guys, but that's a good thing. We've had some regular-season success but we haven't had true success here. Now's a good time to move forward.”

As the Clippers are focusing on ball movement this upcoming season, questions remain if they will be competitive in the Western Conference. With only five players remaining from last season's roster, it will take time for them to gel.

For the Clippers, it may very well rest on Griffin's health, who has only appeared in 163 out of the 246 games over the last three seasons.