In the latest NBA rumors, the Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin is mentioned as possibly leaving his team. After another disappointing exit from the NBA Playoffs, the Clippers are a team that is still trying to find a way to compete with the Western Conference elite teams including the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs.

Griffin is a key part of the roster which has got them into the playoffs but was hurt for a good part of the series they lost to Utah this postseason. Now there's a story out that one of Griffin's former teammates believes if Chris Paul leaves the team, so will Griffin, and only for the Miami Heat.

Griffin to Heat?

There have been recent NBA rumors that All-Star guard Chris Paul could wind up playing for the San Antonio Spurs. That would align "CP3" with fellow All-Star Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, and of course, one of the best coaches in the league, Gregg Popovich. The Spurs are a team looking to continue competing in the West with their solid system of basketball.

If Paul leaves, it would possibly set up a situation where Griffin heads to a new team. As the Sun-Sentinel reported Monday, Griffin's former teammate Jared Dudley was on a recent ESPN podcast and spoke about where Griffin would go. Dudley, who is now a member of the Phoenix Suns said "Miami is the only case scenario" where Griffin could be "the man of the team."

Dudley went on to say that he knows Griffin loves living in Los Angeles, so he could see him only moving to a similar city like Miami.

He mentioned that Griffin would be playing for Pat Riley's franchise and they would make the playoffs with Griffins' help. He would join a roster that already includes Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside, along with several rising stars. The Heat will also have the No. 14 NBA Draft pick in June.

A fresh start over money?

Last offseason saw the Miami Heat lose longtime franchise star Dwyane Wade who signed a two-year free-agent contract with the Chicago Bulls. Just recently, the team officially cut ties with Chris Bosh, meaning the last of the "Big Three" players is now gone from the roster.

While Griffin would certainly be "the man" if he decides to play for the Miami Heat, he'd be losing some salary to do so.

He can get a $175 million five-year contract if he returns to the Clippers but would get a max of $130 million over four years with any other team he decides to go to.

However, if Pat Riley and company manage to lure Griffin to South Beach, it could create quite a stir. The team was right on the brink of making the postseason and with a star like Blake on the roster, it would certainly push them to that next level.
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