Report: Blake Griffin, Detroit Pistons Agree to Buyout
Blake Griffin and the Detroit Pistons have reportedly agreed to a contract buyout that would allow the former Oklahoma Sooners star to become an unrestricted free agent.
The news, first reported by ESPN.com, means that the 31-year-old Griffin, can shop his services to a new team.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, The Brooklyn Nets, the Golden State Warriors, the Miami Heat, and the Portland Trail Blazers are expected to talk with Griffin about signing a new deal. Griffin is an Oklahoma City native and, certainly a return to his hometown Thunder is a possibility. But the teams Woj listed are all considered playoff contenders and, in some cases, NBA title contenders.
Griffin’s contract was huge — he was expected to receive $36.6 million this season and $39 million next season, the final year of a five-year contract he originally signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. In the first year of that contract the Clippers traded Griffin to the Pistons.
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Griffin was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2011, is a six-time NBA All-Star and a three-time All-NBA second-team selection. He also won the slam-dunk contest in 2011.
At Oklahoma, Griffin was a huge name in the Big 12 and in the nation. His best season came in 2008-09, when he was the Big 12 Player of the Year (leading the league in scoring and rebounding), a consensus first-team All-American, the National College Player of the Year, and led the NCAA in rebounding. In that season, his sophomore year, Griffin averaged 22.7 points, 14.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game during the regular season.
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