NBA Rumors: Lakers, Warriors Interested In Blake Griffin, Nets Favored To Sign Forward

One of the NBA’s best teams will likely acquire yet another former All-Star. The Detroit Pistons are reportedly allowing Blake Griffin to hit free agency, and several championship contenders are expected to pursue the veteran.

Detroit and Griffin have agreed to a contract buyout, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday. The Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers are among Griffin’s possible landing spots, according to the report. The Los Angeles Lakers and L.A. Clippers have shown interest in signing Griffin, according to The New York Times Marc Stein.

Brooklyn is viewed as the favorite to land Griffin, according to multiple reports. The Nets are the consensus betting favorite to win the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn enters the All-Star break tied for the most wins in the East.

By adding James Harden in January to a roster that already includes Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Nets became the team to beat in the East. Brooklyn has won 10 of its last 11 games.

The defending champion Lakers still have the best odds to win the 2021 NBA Finals. The Lakers are a half-game ahead of the Clippers for the No.3 seed in the West.

Considering the Clippers once traded Griffin to the Pistons just six months after he inked a five-year contract to remain in L.A., the forward probably isn’t headed back to his old team.

Griffin is a six-time All-Star and only two years removed from being a Third-team All-NBA selection, but injuries have taken their toll on the veteran. In 20 games this season, Griffin is averaging career lows of 12.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting 36.5% from the field.

Griffin last played in a game on Feb. 12. The Pistons had been holding him out of the lineup while trying to trade him.