Blake Griffin is expected to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, according to Shams Charania. This comes after his buyout earlier this week with the Detroit Pistons. The star-studded Nets continue to gain more firepower in their mission to win a championship, and Griffin gets his first opportunity since playing for the Los Angeles Clippers to be considered a true contender.
Blake Griffin has cleared free agency waivers and the six-time NBA All-Star is expected to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 7, 2021
Blake Griffin Expected to Sign with the Brooklyn Nets
The Wealthy get Wealthier
Star power is easy to come by in Brooklyn. All three of their main stars – Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, are all All-Stars. More than that, the three are all arguably top 10 players in the league.
It doesn’t stop there, as the Nets have a strong core of role players as well. Joe Harris is a stud and one of the best shooters in the entire league. Harris is shooting over 50 percent from the three-point line, giving him the highest percentage in the NBA. He’s averaging 15 points per game.
DeAndre Jordan isn’t the same player he used to be, but still a strong option nonetheless. He’s currently averaging 7.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. Jordan serves as the defensive anchor of the team, but truth be told age has certainly caught up to him.
Landry Shamet and Jeff Green are two other strong options in Brooklyn. Shamet is a “three-and-d” guard, whereas Green is extremely versatile and can play both forward positions as well as the five in a small-ball lineup. Green is averaging 9.5 points and 3.6 rebounds on over 42 percent shooting from deep.
Griffin’s play has been rough this season, however. A lot of this can be attributed to his team’s quality, although injuries have severely derailed his career. The former All-Star, however, is still extremely talented and his veteran presence builds the Nets’ case for being a contender.
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Griffin Boosts the Nets Contender Status
The Nets were already a contender before this news. Having three of the best players in the league does this, of course. Griffin adds depth, experience, and talent, however.
It’s important to note that although Griffin has a big name, he likely won’t be a starter. Three or four years ago, a lineup of Irving, Harden, Durant, Griffin, and Jordan would have been one of the best ever assembled. Injuries have taken away Griffin’s explosiveness, and age has caught up to Jordan, however.
Harris will remain a starter in Brooklyn, and it’s a disservice to his talent to think otherwise. He’s an elite shooter and thrives in the open looks he has playing alongside Brooklyn’s big three.
If Griffin can contribute 12-15 points off the bench, which is very possible, then the Nets have found their sixth-man option. His explosiveness is gone, but Griffin added new dynamics to his game in Detroit including ball-handling and three-point shooting. That hasn’t been visible this season, but a change of scenery into a star-studded environment will help.
Brooklyn was a top-five team before this acquisition, and remain the same. Many will choose them as the championship favorites due to their firepower, but there are still leaks that have to be fixed. The Nets still have to address their rim protection before being considered the top team in the league. The bench, however, gets a major boost with Griffin in town.
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