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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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Dec 10, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) shoots the ball against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center. The Bulls defeat the Clippers 83-80. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Chicago Bulls

Now we’re talking. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, that potential season-ending injury to Joakim Noah has the Chicago Bulls hesitant to move Pau Gasol, with the team preferring to try and re-sign him in free agency instead. With Nikola Mirotic out until after the All-Star break as well, rookie Bobby Portis is going to get minutes and there’s no frontcourt logjam that needs clearing.

But if the Bulls got the opportunity to pair a superstar like Blake Griffin with Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose, they shouldn’t hesitate — especially if it only cost them an aging, free agent-to-be in Gasol, Nikola Mirotic, an injured Mike Dunleavy and, possibly, future draft compensation.

Griffin is not much of a rim protector like Gasol has been, and despite his roller coaster of a season, Mirotic is not a player anyone should be giving up on. But it takes talent, potential and usually future draft picks to land a superstar via trade, so what the Bulls would be temporarily lacking in depth, they’d make up for in star power.

For the Clippers, Gasol would be a savvy addition who could help spread the floor from the midrange. Like Griffin, he’s an excellent frontcourt passer who’d be able to set up DeAndre Jordan for easy lobs when the defense overplays, and Mirotic would either bolster the bench or start right away at small forward, depending on where Rivers preferred playing him.

Dunleavy probably won’t be returning until February because of back surgery that’s kept him out all season, but as a guy who made 40.7 percent of his threes last year, a healthy Dunleavy would be able to space the floor in this new spread offense. A draft pick would probably be needed to sweeten the deal.

However, Gasol is the Bulls’ second best player and as an upcoming free agent, the Clippers may not be as interested in trading the face of their franchise — who doesn’t have a player option until 2017-18 — for someone they’d have to re-sign over the summer. Dunleavy is risky until he proves he’s back and Mirotic and Gasol might not be enough to help Lob City take the next step anyway.

Next: No. 8

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