During the trade deadline last February, there were rumors about a blockbuster trade involving Blake Griffin and the Denver Nuggets.
At that time, Griffin was involved in an offcourt incident where he repeatedly punched LA Clippers trainer Matias Testi (who is now out of the organization based on recent reports) and broke his hand in the process. Some teams saw this as an opportunity to get a star talent and there were many trade rumors linking Griffin to several teams.
But there was one claim that the Clippers actually called the Denver Nuggets offering Blake Griffin for some of Denver's best pieces. Chris Broussard of ESPN was quoted (h/t Real GM) in an ESPN radio guesting to have heard it from his sources.
"I've been told the Clippers actually called Denver and offered Blake Griffin and Lance Stephenson for Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried, Will Barton and Nikola Jokic. Denver turned it down because Blake will be a free agent after next season. Plus they like some of those young kids," Broussard said.
Broussard also said that Doc Rivers denied this, but Rivers also denied leaving the Boston Celtics and he is with the Clippers now. Point is, a Doc Rivers denial doesn't mean it did not really happen.
On the other hand, Mile High Sports explored another trade target, and that was DeMarcus Cousins.
"If Denver was ever going to make a deal for DeMarcus Cousins, now is the time. Cousins is extremely unhappy in Sacremento. He has had issues with losing, coaching and now is questioning the Kings' future due to a questionable draft last month," Sean Walsh of MHS wrote.
He reasoned that Cousins would fit in Denver better than any other team because coach Mike Malone is the only coach he really bonded with in Sacramento. Obviously, personal relationships matter to him.
Would the pieces for a DeMarcus Cousins trade be the same for a Blake Griffin trade? Probably not.
Blake Griffin is an expiring contract (by virtue of his player option, he can choose to become a free agent at season's end), his trade value is reduced and the idea is that the two sides can come closer to a point of agreement.
The deal breaker in the alleged Clippers proposal is Nikola Jokic. The Serbian center quietly made the All-Rookie team this season and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting (behind Karl Anthony-Towns and Kristaps Porzingis, both of whom are virtually untouchable on their teams).
The Nuggets could be open to trading Jokic because they play the same position. Also, Cousins offers more security than Griffin (an extra year) which makes him worth the risk.
Cousins' Team USA stint shows that he can live up to his potential given the right environment, under a coach that he respects. Blake Griffin has pretty much lived up to his potential.
At this point, Jokic is arguably the best trade asset that the Nuggets possess. A trade for any of those two stars would see the other team asking for him. But Denver should give him up for Cousins only, if at all.