Blake Griffin was traded to the Detroit Pistons from the L.A. Clippers. Yes, that happened.
So much has been written and said about the trade in the last 24 hours. So many are still processing what happened, even Griffin. But that's the business of the NBA.
Speaking of business, there is one aspect of the trade for the Pistons that matters greatly when evaluating the trade as a whole. The team was able to create a significant trade exception as a result of the deal, which could help it in free agency this summer, per Bobby Marks of ESPN.
One under the radar aspect of the Blake Griffin trade is that the Pistons created a $7M trade exception. Detroit will have a full year to use and the exception could be a valuable asset based on roster/cap restrictions next season.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) January 30, 2018
A trade exception allows a team to sign a player even if it is over the salary cap. It's an important exception when an organization needs talent but doesn't quite have they money to attain it.
In Detroit's case, the trade exception is worth about $7 million, which hovers right around the amount of the mid-level exception, give or take one or two million dollars. That could be enough money to grab a role player that compliments the rest of the roster.
After the trade, the Pistons have over $111 million in guaranteed contracts for the 2018-19 season. That is over the projected salary cap for next year. That trade exception could prove vital, as the team is also currently hard-capped, although it is still under the salary tax threshold.
The Pistons really took a game in taking on Griffin's contract, which was a max deal when he signed it last summer with the Clippers. If the team wants to make any headway, it will need all the extra money it can get.
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