The Los Angeles Clippers entered the 2019-20 campaign as one of the favorites to win the 2020 NBA Finals, but everything looked different for this team after the NBA shutdown. They had a relatively quiet offseason, but should still be looking to make a move. Could bringing Blake Griffin back from the Detroit Pistons make sense?
When the Clippers entered the bubble, they did not look like the dominant team they had been over the course of the season, but still entered the playoffs as the two-seed in the Western Conference and a strong favorite to reach the NBA Finals.
They took on the Dallas Mavericks, who gave them a run for their money, but injuries to Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic were too much to overcome for the Mavs. The Clippers ultimately won the series 4-2 and set up a matchup with the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals. After rallying down 3-1 in their first series to the Jazz, the Nuggets did the unthinkable and knocked off the Clippers in seven games after trailing 3-1 again.
Not only was this loss heartbreaking for the Clippers, but caused a massive chain of events this offseason that could ultimately hurt their championship window in the Western Conference. First, Doc Rivers stepped down as head coach and GM of the Clippers and was quickly hired by the Philadelphia 76ers. Then, the Clippers were stunned to find out that reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Montrezl Harrell, decided to switch his locker room in the Staples Center and signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Clippers biggest rivals.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are still leading this Clippers organization and still have championship aspirations, but it will be a lot more difficult for Los Angeles this season than it has been in the past. They need a reliable “go-to” third scoring option on this team, especially if Kawhi or PG13 struggle one night.
While it may seem extremely far-fetched for the Clippers to be able to do it, bringing back Griffin may not be that crazy of an idea. Serge Ibaka and Ivica Zubac seem to have the center position locked up and handled, but the Clippers are a mess at the power forward position.
This team does not have a true power forward and instead have a bunch of shooters like Marcus Morris Sr. and Luke Kennard that can enter the rotation and move Kawhi to power forward. Leonard is a much better player when he is on the wing, which is why inquiring about Griffin may not be insane.
Let’s take a look at who the Detroit Pistons could potentially get out of trading Blake Griffin back to the Clippers.
