The blockbuster trade to define all blockbuster trades could be upon us as soon as this summer.
According to a report by Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Clippers are entertaining the idea of a Blake Griffin for Kevin Durant swap with the Oklahoma City Thunder upon the completion of the 2015-16 NBA season. Durant is about to become an unrestricted free agent, and, as such, any potential deal this offseason would have to be of the sign-and-trade variety. But the Clippers are still intrigued.
Outside of those well-known suitors – Washington, Houston and Miami – there’s another California team determined to make a bid for Durant, league sources tell The Vertical: The Los Angeles Clippers. If the opportunity comes to move Blake Griffin and replace him with Durant, the Clippers won’t hesitate, sources said.
Teams are calling on Griffin trades now, but Clippers president and coach Doc Rivers seems determined to play the year out with Griffin and see how far the team advances in the playoffs. Eventually, the Clippers will determine how intrigued Durant might be in becoming a Big Three with Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan.
Just a matter of weeks ago, the notion of the Clippers even remotely considering a trade of Griffin, their franchise player, a fan favorite, and arguably the best power forward in the league today, was an unthinkable one. But his disgraceful recent incident punching team equipment manager Matias Testi has brought the pitchforks out in full force and given credence to the idea that the team should at least explore the possibility of trading him away.
Should the Clippers fall short in the playoffs once again this season, it looks like Rivers could very well blow up the team’s core over the summer. And what better way to do so then by bringing in a player of Durant’s caliber? The Slim Reaper is the most gifted pure scorer in the NBA and will offer the Clippers not only better spacing and another terrifying offensive weapon, but also the versatile two-way combo forward they have long lacked.
The incentive for Oklahoma City to make such a move is to ensure that they don’t lose Durant for nothing if he decides to flee for greener pastures. Griffin’s passing at the power forward position is second to none and he would give the Thunder a more well-rounded offensive attack with his facilitating and his wrecking ball post game in contrast to their usual perimeter ISO play. It’s also worth noting that Griffin was born and raised in Oklahoma City and played his college basketball for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Still, the likeliest scenario is that Durant returns to the Thunder in 2016. And even if he does depart, formidable competitors loom in both the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. The Clippers have an advantage in that they can offer OKC perhaps the most palatable return for Durant by dangling Griffin. But let’s not hold our breaths on it to happen just yet.
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