Blake Griffin (Photo : Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls remain possible destinations for Blake Griffin in the summer of 2017.
Griffin is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and could as well be the top player available in the market in 2017. With the Los Angeles Clippers facing a difficult situation of keeping Griffin, the team could lose the five-time All-Star in free agency, and teams would certainly be waiting to pounce at the former Slam Dunk champion.
According to Vijay Vemu of Hoops Habit, a fan site hosted by Sports Illustrated, the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls could be among the top favorites to land Griffin come free agency next year.
The Bulls have finally acquired star players via free agency after signing Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo this summer. While the addition of the two backcourt veterans won't result instantly to a championship, Chicago remains with a flexible cap space next summer, with Rondo partially guaranteed next season and Wade likely to decline his player option.
The Bulls also have plenty of restricted free agents in Taj Gibson, Tony Snell and Cristiano Felicio, giving the team more leverage on landing a marquee player like Griffin come 2017 free agency.
If Griffin decides to join the Bulls, he will add up to the team's crowded frontcourt, but would certainly be the top option for Chicago at the four spot. Griffin would be a nice addition to Jimmy Butler, and should be a piece to attract other stars play in Windy City.
On the other hand, the Celtics seem the most favorite to land Griffin next summer, especially if the team can manage a strong finish the season. Griffin has been consistently linked to trade rumors, and the Celtics are among the teams mentioned by several reports that has strong interests in acquiring the All-Star forward via trade, according to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News.
"The likely target for the Celtics, according to front-office sources, is Clippers forward Blake Griffin. The Clippers have been weighing trading Griffin all season, and the possibility of a three-team package involving Sacramento sending Rudy Gay to the Clippers has emerged," Deveney reported last month.
"The Celtics would give up some number of their upcoming draft picks, but opposing front-office members say they don't want to give up either Brooklyn pick Boston can own in the next two years."
The unwillingness of the Celtics to give up too much for Griffin could signal that the team would instead pursue the 27-year-old forward in free agency rather than trade for him this season. With Al Horford secured for a couple more years and the team's core still intact next season, Beantown would certainly be a desirable destination for Griffin if he aspires to win a championship.
