In assessing the value of National Basketball Association trades and determining which of those involved won, it’s fair to begin by addressing the query: Which team got the best player? In the case of the deal that went down yesterday, the Pistons did; they gave away two starters, an occasional substitute, and two draft picks for five-time All-Star Blake Griffin. And so the swap figures to weigh in their favor from the outset, especially since he possesses the star power that transcends his contributions on the court.
True, Griffin won’t come cheap. He just a signed a humongous contract that will net him a whopping $35 million in the first season and $171 million all told through 2022. Moreover, the Pistons seem to be have gutted its roster in doing so; Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley are solid players, and they can’t be easy to replace (not to mention aren’t — and won’t be — commanding eye-popping price tags). And with the injury to point guard Reggie Jackson, the immediate future looks to be a whole lot of their new acquisition and resident front court anchor Andre Drummond.
On the other hand, the Pistons had little to no choice but to do something — anything, really — to salvage their campaign. Prior to unrolling the welcome mat for Griffin, they were in the midst of a debilitating swoon that threatened to further erode their already-suspect fan base. Now, they have a proven marquee name that will put backsides in seats and sell the future with no small measure of truth attached to the promises. And because they’re in the diluted East, playoff stints, however short, should be part and parcel of their concrete plans.
To be sure, Griffin is a risky proposition. He’s supposed to be in his prime years, but his brittle body has killed the momentum his talent built in his nine years with the Clippers. Needless to say, the Pistons hope he gets to suit up more often that he did in La-La Land; else, he’ll be an albatross, paid premium wages for part-time work. In any case, he’s a much-needed shot in the arm for a franchise flailing in mediocrity. Now, they’ll be good, maybe even better than good, grinding in the present even as they have hope for the future.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is the Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Basic Energy Corp.
