Many across the sports world were very surprised when the L.A. Clippers traded the face of their franchise, star forward Blake Griffin, to the Detroit Pistons for multiple players and draft picks on Monday afternoon.

On Monday night, the Clippers released an official statement, via ClutchPoints' Tomer Azarly on Twitter, giving details about the blockbuster trade. The Clippers officially traded Griffin, along with center Willie Reed and power forward Brice Johnson, to the Pistons for small forward Tobias Harris, shooting guard Avery Bradley, center Boban Marjanovic, a 2018 protected first-round pick and a 2019 second-round pick.

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer praised Griffin for his impact on the Clippers in the official statement.

“Blake Griffin had a tremendous impact on this organization and his legacy within the community of Los Angeles will be permanent. It was a pleasure getting to know and cheer for Blake. I wish him, as well as Brice and Willie, the best of luck,” Ballmer said on Monday. “While change is hard, my confidence in our front office, led by Lawrence Frank and Michael Winger, along with the sage counsel of Jerry West, has never been higher. I believe today, more than ever, in our ultimate goal of winning an NBA Championship.”

Lawrence Frank, the Clippers' team president, also made a statement about Griffin's departure to Detroit.

“Blake is one of the best players to ever wear a Clippers jersey. We want to express our gratitude and respect for everything he has done for this team and the city of LA. This was a very difficult decision, but we ultimately felt it was appropriate for the franchise,” Frank said on Monday.

The Clippers may not even be done quite yet, as rumors continue to swirl around the team potentially trading both star center DeAndre Jordan and shooting guard Lou Williams before the Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline.

Here's the Clippers' press release in full: