5 big-name free agents Los Angeles Lakers must avoid in 2017
Blake Griffin, PF, Los Angeles Clippers (Player Option)
I can hardly fathom the madness that would ensue if Blake Griffin were to spurn the Clippers and sign with the Lakers. It would be a jaw-dropping move for a player who has been a driving force behind the Clippers’ evolution into an annual contender.
With that being said, it wouldn’t be the right move for the Lakers.
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Sure, it would give them the superstar they’re so desperate for. It would also stick it to their crosstown rivals. Those two minor positives, however, don’t outweigh the numerous negatives that would accompany the addition of Griffin via free agency.
The big one for me is Griffin’s durability. He hasn’t played more than 67 games in a season since the 2013-14 campaign, and has played in only 96 games over the last two years. The Clippers were also forced to play without their dominant power forward for the second half of their playoff series against the Utah Jazz, which likely played a significant part in their elimination.
Signing Griffin would also be a big blow to Julius Randle‘s value. The former No. 7 overall pick saw his stock rise significantly this past season, emerging as a sparkplug for this Lakers franchise. All progress, however, would be halted if he were to step back into a bench role. It’s not like either player is suited for a permanent move to center.
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Griffin jumping ship for the Lakers sounds like an interesting idea. When it comes down to it, though, it’s simply not the right direction for Johnson and Co. to go in. They need to acquire a superstar, but bringing in an injury-prone power forward isn’t the way to do it.