Blake Griffin could return home to Oklahoma City in free agency next summer to join Russell Westbrook. Would that make the Thunder a legitimate threat to the Warriors?
Blake Griffin will be the most sought-after free agent next summer.
While Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry are expected to re-sign with the Golden State Warriors, Chris Paul would turn 32 next May and most likely align himself with a championship contender.
Unless the Los Angeles Clippers get over the hump this coming season, there’s reason to believe that both Paul and Griffin would take their talents elsewhere.
For Paul, there are two intriguing options. He could replace the aging Tony Parker in San Antonio or join good friend LeBron James in Cleveland, where star point guard Kyrie Irving would gladly switch to the 2-guard spot.
Griffin, in the peak of his prime, is due for a big payday. And even though the bright lights of Los Angeles and a lucrative five-year extension from the Clippers could be hard to turn down, all signs point to the star power forward returning home to Oklahoma City, where Russell Westbrook has become a cult figure who is devoted to sticking with the Thunder for years to come.
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Westbrook could find himself in a Kobe Bryant 2005-06-type situation unless he finds an All-Star running mate to help contend with the mighty Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs.
While many believe that in Steven Adams, Enes Kanter and Victor Oladipo, Westbrook already has the help he needs, a Thunder team without Kevin Durant would lack the offensive firepower needed to keep pace with the Warriors. And that’s why Griffin could be the game-changer.
Earlier this month, The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Thunder front office assured Westbrook that they would pursue Griffin in free agency next summer before the athletic guard signed a three-year extension with the team.
"“Durant is deleted. Done and gone and no longer part of his world. ‘What’s next?’ he (Westbrook) asked – and the Thunder connected with Westbrook on a plan to construct their next act. “Once, it was James Harden and Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Now, it’s a superstar solo act – with an eye upon Los Angeles Clippers All-Star forward Blake Griffin in 2017 free agency. Griffin is an Oklahoma kid gone Hollywood, a star who has his own tensions with Chris Paul on the Clippers. “For now, this is Westbrook’s chance to become a recruiter, a gatherer, and bringing back Griffin could make these Thunder a legitimate threat to Golden State in the Western Conference.”"
According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls are some of the suitors planning to make a hard push at Griffin next summer.
Here are five reasons why Blake Griffin would not find a better situation than the Thunder:
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