The L.A. Clippers are finalizing a trade to send star forward Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, a first-round pick and a second-round pick (Woj), according to Shams Charania of The Vertical. The Clippers are also including forwards Brice Johnson and Willie Reed in the trade, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The trade generated rather quickly, as the Pistons were in urgent need of a change of pace after losing their last eight games and 12 of their last 15 outings. Griffin has had one of his least-efficient seasons, shooting a career-low 44.1 percent from the floor, as he’s prominently extended his range the the 3-point line, shooting 5.7 treys per game at a measly 34.2 percent.
Both players have struggled this season, and could be in dire need of a fresh start.
Bradley was acquired from the Boston Celtics this offseason in a one-for-one trade in exchange for power forward Marcus Morris. Griffin played the first 19 games of the season before catching the injury bug once again and missing the next month with an MCL injury.
The Pistons were avidly looking to part ways with Avery Bradley, according to a Wojnarowski report from this morning, indicating Detroit wasn't willing to resign their newly-acquired perimeter ace, as he'll likely command about $20 million per year when signed to a new contract.
The Clippers are only one game away from becoming the eighth playoff seed, despite all the injuries they've withstood this season. Having shipped away Griffin's massive five-year, $173 million deal to the Motor City, they now find themselves $629,000 below the luxury tax, despite taking on so many contracts, according to ESPN Insider Bobby Marks.
L.A.'s cap flexibility will largely depend on DeAndre Jordan's player-option and Bradley's/Lou Williams' free agent decisions this summer.
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