Hoops Habit
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 11
Next
NBA
Dec 23, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) goes against Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) in the first quarter of their game at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Atlanta Hawks

Like the Aldridge trade mentioned before, this one is ironic because the Atlanta Hawks would be giving up a 2016 NBA All-Star for a player who wasn’t a 2016 NBA All-Star. But make no mistake about it: the Hawks would be getting the better player in his deal, which is why they’d probably have to include Thabo Sefolosha or future draft compensation in a hypothetical swap for Griffin.

There are no signs the Hawks are interested in dealing Paul Millsap. At age 30, Millsap is having a career year, averaging 18.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocks per game — all career highs. He leads the team in scoring, rebounding and steals, and he just signed a three-year, $58 million extension over the summer.

But as great as Millsap has been on both ends of the floor, he’s no Blake Griffin, and if the Clippers were to ever express interest in a potential deal, the Hawks would be fools to not pick up the phone at least. Griffin’s passing abilities would make him a great fit for Mike Budenholzer’s offense, and though he doesn’t have three-point range, it’s not like Millsap has been blowing anyone’s hair back with his 30.3 three-point percentage.

For the Clippers, they’d be getting a solid two-way player, a very good passer in his own right and a hard-working defender who would be an upgrade over Griffin in that respect. Then again, the Clippers could always pass on Millsap and Sefolosha and construct a deal that looks more like this:

In this deal, there’s some obvious positional overlap between Al Horford and DeAndre Jordan. Horford would have to slide over to the 4, a spot he hasn’t played in quite some time. Horford is the master of knocking down long range two-pointers and is even making 31.7 percent of his career high 3.0 three-pointers per game this season, but there’s no guarantee this would be a good frontcourt fit.

On the plus side, however, would be adding sharpshooter Kyle Korver to the wing alongside J.J. Redick. Again there’d be some positional overlap, but if you’re a Clippers fan, how could you NOT salivate at the prospect of defenses having to defend not one, but TWO elite shooters who are excellent cutters off the ball? Defenses would get dizzy just watching film of those two, even if Korver’s been uncharacteristically off over the last few weeks.

Unfortunately, part of what has made the Hawks so successful over the last few seasons is continuity and balance. It may be a curse when it comes to legitimately challenging for the Eastern Conference crown, but adding a go-to star like Griffin might upset that balance. Even if it didn’t, the Clippers still might be able to get better offers elsewhere.

Next: No. 3

Home/LA Clippers