Biggest Winners and Losers from Blake Griffin’s Signing with the Brooklyn Nets

Over the last few weeks, many reports were pointing that Pistons’ PF Blake Griffin was looking for a way out of Detroit. Recently, Blake got his wish as he was bought out by the Detroit Pistons, making him a free agent.

Following the buy-out, several teams had an eye on Griffin to bolster their roster. However, the Brooklyn Nets were believed to be the strongest contenders to land Griffin. As expected, Blake Griffin signed with the Nets for the remainder of this season.

But will this signing help the franchise? Let’s take a look at the biggest winners and losers following Griffin’s signing with Brooklyn.

Biggest winners of the Blake Griffin trade

Brooklyn Nets

This season the Nets are going all-in to end their championship drought. First they participated in a blockbuster trade bringing in their third superstar in James Harden. But due to the trade, they lost most of their defense.

As a result, the team has been on the hunt to sign a defensive player. Although Blake is not one of the best defenders in the league, he will get the job done. Furthermore, he might not have the same athleticism he was once known for, he can still be an impact player. So Griffin could work as the fourth option on a day when the Nets’ Big three is struggling.

Detroit Pistons

When Griffin joined the Pistons, he was still an excellent player. But over the time, Griffin’s productions have reduced and he is no longer a player who can be the cornerstone for a franchise. Thus, after buying out Blake, the Pistons can focus on nurturing their young players.

Considering their performances this season, they will land a high draft pick in the next season. As a result, they can combine their current talent with that of an exciting prospect in the upcoming draft. The cherry on the top is the fact that Blake Griffin gave up $13.3 million from his contract.

According to Vincent Goodwill, the money will be added to their cap space in this and the next season. With this extra help, the team could use it to sign some good role players or even a solid sixth man. Keeping this in mind, the Pistons are definitely a winner by letting go of Griffin.

Biggest losers of the Blake Griffin trade

Los Angeles Lakers

The purple and gold started the season in a phenomenal form. They held the number one seed in the West for quite some time as well. But since the unfortunate injury to their superstar Anthony Davis, the team has gone a bit off course.

They have slipped off to the third seed in the conference and have won just three out of their last ten matchups. With AD’s return date still uncertain, adding a player like Griffin could have benefitted the team.

Additionally, in the playoffs, the Lakers could have a formation with Davis at 5 and Griffin at 4. Instead, with Griffin joining the Nets, their potential NBA Finals opponents have gotten even stronger.

Los Angeles Clippers

Just like their neighbors, the Clippers also had an eye on Blake after his buyout with the Pistons. Although the Clippers are fourth in the West, they have struggled to perform in the clutch. Adding Blake to the roster would have given them an additional option to rely on in the dying minutes of the game.

Moreover, Griffin was a star for the Clippers in the initial years of his career. So his return would have been welcomed with open arms by the fans. Whatever be the case, the dream of Griffin’s return to LA will remain a dream, at least for this season.

What are your thoughts on Griffin signing with the Nets? Will he help the team win the 2021 NBA Championship or not? Let us know your views in the comments section down below.