Los Angeles Clippers re-start the Blake Griffin era

Days after trading Chris Paul to the Rockets, the Los Angeles Clippers re-signed Blake Griffin to a five-year $173 million deal. With that contract, the Blake Griffin era has returned in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Clippers could have slipped into rebuilding territory this offseason. With three of their big four set to hit free agency, the 2017-18 season could have been a dark year for the Clippers.

Although Chris Paul and J.J. Redick will not be in Los Angeles next season, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Blake Griffin cancelled his free agency meetings and agreed to re-sign in Los Angeles for a five-year maximum contract.

While the Clippers made the playoffs every year with Chris Paul in the fold, Blake Griffin was the first star in Los Angeles. His success during his rookie year and willingness to mold his game to fit with Paul are both good signs for the Clippers.

Blake is not the same player that he was during his rookie year. However, his skill-set never meshed perfectly with Chris Paul. Furthermore, the pieces that the Clippers got in return for Paul fit very well alongside Griffin. Despite the inherent risk of the new contract, Blake will finally have a team built around him and a chance to lead them to the playoffs without CP3’s help.

Offense: Room to Operate

Even before the Chris Paul-Blake Griffin became official, many writers have discussed the notion that Blake Griffin could run the offense as a point forward. Blake will clearly have more chances to showcase his elite ball-handling and passing abilities. However, Blake’s playmaking is not the only facet of his game that will shine through more clearly next season.

In Griffin’s rookie season, he did not have even the semblance of a jump shot. He was a miserable 84-of-252 from 15-24 feet (or 33.3 percent), per NBA.com. He also struggled from the free throw line, making 64.2 percent of his freebies as a rookie and just 52.1 percent as a sophomore.

However, Blake is now one of the premier midrange shooters in the league. Griffin made 42 percent of his looks from 15-24 feet last year, per NBA.com. Additionally, Griffin started to incorporate a three-point shot last season, with 42.2 percent of his career three-point attempts came during the 2016-17 season. He canned a mediocre (but not atrocious) 33.6 percent of those shots.

Chris Paul’s presence limited Blake Griffin’s chances to run the offense. However, Paul’s abilities as a top 10 midrange scorer also limited Griffin’s opportunities to get to his spots on offense. With Paul out of the picture, Blake’s scoring chances may grow almost as much as his playmaking chances.

Future Outlook: Coin Flip

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The value of Blake Griffin’s contract will ultimately depend on his ability to stay healthy. Griffin is clearly a max contract player assuming full health. However, there are already rumblings that Griffin will not be fully healthy until December.

There are plenty of reasons for optimism about Griffin’s health. After a broken bone caused him to miss his first season, Griffin missed just four games total in his first four full seasons. Missing time with a broken hand from punching a Clippers staff member is not a good sign. However, it at least is not a chronic injury.

The concerns about Griffin’s future are certainly valid. However, he was an All-NBA player just two years ago. Furthermore, he has made major strides with both his jump shot and his defense. Additionally, one could argue that Chris Paul limited Blake’s upside almost as much as he helped it. Paul clearly raised Griffin’s floor and helped him grow as a player. However, Blake’s upside relates in no small part to how often he has the ball in his hands.

Next: 2017 NBA free agency grades - Clippers re-sign Griffin

Only time will tell if Griffin’s max contract is a good move for the Clippers. That being said, the deal allowed them to retain the star that kicked off the most successful six-year run in Clippers history. After playing second fiddle to Chris Paul and growing alongside him, this team is now firmly in the capable hands of Blake Griffin.