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NBA Trade Rumors: 10 Teams That Should Trade For Blake Griffin

By Gerald Bourguet

December 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) moves the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
December 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) moves the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 25, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Lance Thomas (42) defends Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Los Angeles Clippers won 111-80. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

3. New York Knicks

There’s only one player on this list who might be a better replacement for Griffin if the Clippers were to replace him (stay tuned!). But given that Carmelo Anthony’s skill set would not differentiate no matter what team he was playing for, we should point out that Lob City might not be able to do better than Melo with their short-term goals of contending in mind.

In a straight up swap, the Clippers would not only be getting another go-to scorer (albeit one who is five years older), but one whose game is more perimeter-oriented. Melo is only shooting 33.7 percent from downtown this year, but he’d benefit from more wide open looks with Redick spacing the floor and CP3 setting everyone up.

Anthony is averaging an impressive 21.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, and his newfound commitment to sharing the ball suggests he’d be able to do the same on a team with a more realistic shot at winning a title before the end of his prime. He’s not a great defender, but he’s been trying harder on that end and he’d spread the floor for Jordan to operated in the middle on offense.

Melo would also bring the added benefit of being signed on through the 2018-19 season, and if he were traded to a contender, he’d be more likely to neglect the no-trade clause in his contract.

As for the New York Knicks, they’d be trading a 31-year-old superstar whose game will soon decline for an extremely marketable 26-year-old who is just now entering his prime. Griffin isn’t signed on for as long as Anthony, but he and Kristaps Porzingis would form a tantalizing duo to build around for the future.

However, this deal comes with some sentimental caveats. By trading Melo, the Knicks would be shipping off the best player they’ve had in decades, a lovable scorer who’s lit up Madison Square Garden in a way we haven’t seen since the days of Patrick Ewing.

His commitment to being a mentor and friend to Porzingis shouldn’t be overlooked either, since the two have become close and the added responsibility may have something to do with Melo’s newfound commitment to defense and passing. Would the Knicks really be comfortable trading away Porzingis’ best influence so far?

With Anthony meaning so much to the franchise and Griffin being the better player for the Clippers anyway, there are some major obstacles to this hypothetical deal.

Next: No. 2

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