The Los Angeles Clippers have yet to put together a championship-winning formula with Blake Griffin at the helm, but reports suggest the superstar power forward’s time in L.A. is far from over.
According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, sources close to Griffin believe he intends to re-sign with the Clippers despite an early-termination option in his contract allowing him to become a free agent next offseason.
Per Kyler, head coach Doc Rivers believes Griffin will retire as a member of the Clippers, and Griffin is “not open to” moving on.
The No. 1 overall selection in the 2009 NBA draft was named to the All-Star team in each of his first five seasons, but the 2015-16 campaign was a major struggle.
Although Griffin averaged 21.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, he appeared in just 35 contests for the Clips because of quad and hand injuries as well as a four-game suspension for punching a team staff member.
Griffin appeared in four playoff games, but he once again went down with an injury, and the Portland Trail Blazers upset the Clippers in the first round.
Los Angeles has never made it past the Western Conference semifinals during the Griffin era, but with his career averages of 21.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists, it is difficult to deny the notion that he is among the NBA’s premier players when healthy.
Griffin is in his prime at 27 years of age despite already having six NBA seasons under his belt, and his best basketball may be ahead of him.
Although the Clippers could likely get an impressive haul in return for Griffin, replacing the offensive impact he has would be nearly impossible.
Courtesy: Bleacher Report.com
