Blake Griffin (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Clippers could explore trading Blake Griffin to the New York Knicks for Kristaps Porzingis in a blockbuster deal that could change the landscape of the NBA.
The Clippers have been clear about keeping Blake Griffin this season, despite the All-Star forward's impending free agency next summer. ESPN's Ramona Shelburne wrote in a report that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is "committed" to keeping Griffin and Chris Paul long term at whatever costs.
"So after three years of Ballmer's ownership, it might just be long enough to draw some conclusions. Most importantly, according to Clippers insiders, Ballmer is committed to keeping both Griffin and Paul long term, no matter what it costs," Shelburne wrote.
However, there is still a possibility the Clippers lose either of the two stars without getting something in return, something the Oklahoma City Thunder failed to anticipate when Kevin Durant decided entered the final year of his contract with the team. This is something the Clippers cannot afford to do as they do not have valuable future assets to kick start their rebuild.
With Griffin possibly explore free agency in the summer of 2017, trading him for a young talent and future assets could be a viable option for the Clippers. The trade scenario explored in the Inquisitr's reports suggested Griffin getting traded to the New York Knicks for Kristaps Porzingis.
Porzingis have shown huge potential to become a perennial All-Star in the league. The 21-year-old from Latvia averaged 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in his rookie season, while shooting an impressive 42.1 percent from the field, including 33.3 from the three-point line.
Porzingis' upside strongly touts him a building block for the Knicks and an assurance if the team's revamped lineup would not yield good results this season. For the Clippers, Porzingis could also be the face of a franchise that has become a consistent contender in the Western Conference.
But Porzingis has been deemed untouchable by the Knicks organization and there are no indications Phil Jackson would consider the idea of trading their future star. Moreover, a one-and-one deal won't work under salary guidelines, which means any potential deal would require other pieces to be involved.
Would the Knicks consider trading Porzingis for Griffin? Probably not, especially for a player who would likely be a one-year rental. But crazier trade deals have happened in the NBA, and if the Knicks could orchestrate a sign-and-trade for Griffin, it is something New York may consider.
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