Miami Heat: 5 potential free agency targets in 2017

2. Blake Griffin, PF

The Los Angeles Clippers put a bit of a wrench in this slideshow when they decided to shock the basketball world by trading Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets.

The return they got wasn’t terrible per se (Sam Dekker, Patrick Beverly, Lou Williams, Houston’s 2018 first round pick and a whole lotta fodder), but it does raise questions about their plans going forward.

Because they received so many serviceable role players in return for the Point God, could they be planning to bring Griffin back, while handing him the reins to the offense in the process? Most signs say yes.

Regardless, because they own their own 2018 first round pick, but lose their 2019 first round pick if they make the playoffs (it’s lottery-protected), wouldn’t a rebuild make most sense going forward?

Consider that in 2016-17, the Clippers outscored their opponents by just 0.3 points per 100 possessions with Griffin in the game and Paul on the bench (per NBAWowy). On the other hand, with Paul in the game, and Griffin out, that number skyrocketed (no pun intended) to 9.7 points per 100 possessions.

Letting Griffin walk, instead of tying themselves down to being a lower-level playoff team for the next five years may be the most prudent avenue available to Los Angeles.

That, in turn, would allow Riley to pounce on the opportunity and add an elite power forward who would immediately revamp Miami’s frontcourt. Yes, Griffin has been injury-prone, but for those saying his production is overrated?

Stop it.