Conflicting reports about his toe injury might affect the interest surrounding Blake Griffin in the free-agent market. According to ESPN, Griffin might not be ready for the start the season after he suffered a toe injury that helped doomed the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs against the Utah Jazz. A source told ESPN’s Michael Eaves that Griffin could potentially be out until December. However, ESPN mentioned that one source provided conflicting information about Griffin’s recovery from the injury.
A separate source told Ramona Shelburne of ESPN that Griffin's toe will be healed in time for the start of the regular season.
The growing concern about Griffin’s injury could make teams think twice before extending him a long-term deal and paying him big money. Griffin’s quad injury in the 2016 playoffs could be another concern for other teams interested in his services. Griffin’s injury history could be further looked into by other teams before signing him to a huge contract.
The 28-year-old Griffin can demand a maximum five-year deal from the Clippers while he can get a four-year contract if he joins another team. Last season, a midseason knee injury limited Griffin to just 61 regular-season games where he averaged 21.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.
Clippers might keep Griffin after Chris Paul gone
After Chris Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets, the Clippers will do everything they can to keep one of the team’s important pieces. According to Shelburne, Griffin will not take less than a five-year deal from the Clippers to become the newest face of the franchise. The tandem of Paul and Griffin made the Clippers one of the contenders in the West but in their six years, the team didn’t make it to the Conference Finals.
Isaiah Thomas recruiting Griffin to Celtics
Shortly after the Clippers traded Paul to the Rockets, Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas made a little recruiting of Griffin via Instagram where he posted "Helluva run (for the Clippers). Now Blake come on over to Boston lol" The Celtics have been looking for another key player who will help them overcome the Cleveland Cavaliers’ domination in the East.
Boston finished the regular-season as the No. 1 seed but lost to the Cavaliers in the Conference Finals, with Thomas out due to a hip injury.
Bringing Griffin in would fill the Celtics’ need for a dependable power forward. Currently, they only have veteran Amir Johnson but he is slated to turn unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Celtics are also eyeing Paul George via trade and Gordon Hayward from the free-agent pool.
