With the Los Angeles Lakers still on the hunt for a third rotational center, their interest in Christian Wood and Bismack Biyombo hasn’t faltered, but their pursuits haven’t gained much traction, either. However, according to reports, one NBA executive believes the team should pursue a decorated All-Star who is familiar with the City of Angels: Blake Griffin.
NBA Rumors: Exec Says Lakers Should Sign Blake Griffin
Background
Drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2009, Griffin’s career got off to an electric start, though not right away. After knee surgery delayed his NBA debut, Griffin played his way to the Rookie of the Year award in 2011. He was also the last rookie to earn an All-Star nod, the first of his six appearances. In nearly seven seasons in LA, Griffin averaged 21.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists on 51/31/68 shooting splits.
After a memorable run in red, white, and blue—the majority of it with the “Lob City” Clippers—Griffin was moved to the Detroit Pistons at the 2018 trade deadline. He still fulfilled his role as a full-time starter with Detroit. Griffin averaged 19.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists in his first 25 games with the team. His best season came in 2018-19, when he played 75 games and averaged a career-high 24.5 points on 46/36/75 splits. However, Griffin also began to decline in Detroit, undergoing two knee surgeries in 2019 and 2020. Griffin was waived by the Pistons in 2021 and signed with the Brooklyn Nets.
Once Griffin recovered and joined the Nets, he tried to get back to the same player he was pre-injury. However, he came off the bench and averaged 10 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game in 26 games. His last two seasons—2021-22 with the Nets and 2022-23 with the Boston Celtics—have also been underwhelming. Griffin averaged 4.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 48/34/65 splits with Boston.
The last few seasons have been disappointing for Griffin. The 34-year-old is eyeing what is likely his final NBA contract, proving his worth as a valuable veteran.
Recent Reports on Griffin and the Lakers
As first reported by the NBA Analysis Network last week, a league executive told reporter Evan Massey that the Lakers should consider signing the former All-Star:
“Blake Griffin is still out there and I think his best fit is the Lakers. He would be a perfect depth addition for L.A.”
This backs up late July speculation from NBA writer Ben Stinar, who outlined his own reasons as to why Griffin would be the ideal pickup for the Lakers. Among them were the fact that “Griffin has transitioned well into becoming a veteran off the bench,” he can serve as a backup forward and a mentor to younger players, and he is—as mentioned earlier—familiar with Los Angeles and what is now Crypto.com Arena.
Should the Lakers Sign Blake Griffin?
Assuming Wood and Biyombo don’t sign with LA after all, then the Lakers should, at the very least, keep tabs on Griffin and potentially bring him in for a workout, as other teams have done with veterans looking to remain in the league.
The Lakers have two roster spots available and 16 of 21 training camp slots filled. With the team focused on frontcourt improvement and unlikely to bring back reserve Wenyen Gabriel, Griffin could prove to be a solid, low-cost pickup. He could play a similar role that Dwight Howard served in his second and third stints with the Lakers. Howard was given limited opportunities but still played efficiently, going from an eight-time All-Star to a valuable role player.
On the other hand, Griffin’s recent track record of injuries is concerning. Even if he were to join the Lakers as a limited reserve, the team prefers a younger, more reliable center. They’re also still focused on pairing Anthony Davis with a more durable big man and looking for someone to back up the latter. Signing someone who had two knee surgeries in the past four years is not the best idea.
Unfortunately, Griffin’s days as a significant contributor in the rotation are already behind him. Thus, there are better options for the Lakers to go after. The team should only consider Griffin if their previous pursuits fall through.
The Last Word
While Blake Griffin still searches for his next opportunity and the Lakers seem like a good fit, the team must play the waiting game with Wood and Biyombo. He could be a good candidate for a training camp invite at the very least. But if Griffin wants a guaranteed deal now, he’s better off looking at other organizations in need of forward/center depth.
