The NBA trade season is in full throttle once more and the rumor mill has been mentioning a potential trade between the Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers involving their All-Star power forwards Blake Griffin and Kevin Love.
With Griffin's recent involvement in a "punching" scandal and ongoing rehabilitation from a quadriceps injury, the Clippers are still winning without their top high-flying scorer, perhaps implying that the 2009 NBA Draft first overall pick is not the most valuable player in LA's lineup.
ESPN's Zach Lowe mentions that the Clips "have played better on both ends, at least by the math" when Griffin is sidelined as an additional three-point shooter is fielded in his place when Doc Rivers is implementing small-ball.
Lowe also said that the Chris Paul-DeAndre Jordan pick-and-roll connection is much more "uncomplicated" with three shooters than with the five-time All-Star and 2011 Slam Dunk champion around.
However, with all these "low points", it is still unquestionable that Griffin is one of the best power forwards in the NBA today and many, if not all, teams in the league will be interested in getting him if they have the chance.
Meanwhile, the Cavs are still not quite the championship team squad that would dethrone the Golden State Warriors off their lofty perch even with the trio of Love, Kyrie Irving, and LeBron James.
Trading for Griffin will not affect the team financially, as indicated by the ESPN Trade Machine, but the upside for Cleveland will be immense with the more dynamic Griffin on the floor in place of the more passive Love.
SB Nation notes that acquiring Griffin would be risky for the Cavs, though, as "he needs the ball more than Love and there might not be enough touches to go around with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving on the floor".
While both players are both skilled at their own styles of play, Griffin is said to be "better at creating his own shot than Love, and defensively, he would be an upgrade".
Rivers is reportedly not yet looking to trade his young power forward, but it should be pondered upon as early as right now considering that the championship window of the Griffin-Paul-Jordan Big Three is closing fast.