Blake Griffin punched a Clippers staffer last week and broke his shooting hand. He also knocked himself out for 4-6 weeks, which head coach Doc Rivers openly said was a very optimistic – and unrealistic – timetable. The embarrassing incident, plus the Clippers’ looking every bit like a second-tier contender in the West, has sparked numerous situations involving Griffin being traded.
One that has taken hold is the idea of a Griffin trade to the Knicks with Carmelo Anthony as the primary return. That deal is a pipe dream, and here’s why.
It's Time To Drop Blake Griffin In Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Griffin Will Be Out Too Long
Sure Kristaps Porzingis is the Knicks’ future. Nobody’s denying that. Nor is it crazy to think it’s better to pair Porzingis with Griffin, who is several years younger than Porzingis, and can be a post-heavy player who can complement Porzingis’ preference to snipe from the outside. But some believe Griffin may be out until the final two weeks of the regular season, so trading away Anthony and his 21.3 points a night while not getting anything from Griffin for several weeks will end the Knicks’ chances at the playoffs.
And while they have an eye toward the future, the Knicks don’t have their first-round pick this year, so winning now is something they’re interested in. The Clippers would have to spice up their offer, since acquiring Anthony helps them win right now, and for the reasons coming up next, they’re unlikely to sell the farm.
Blake Griffin's Brand May Be More Broken Than His Hand
Griffin Is Younger & Cheaper Than Carmelo
Griffin, 26, is owed roughly $59 million over the next three seasons. Anthony, 31, is owed roughly $99 million over the next four seasons. There’s more to consider than these two factors.
Anthony is healthy(ish) – more on that soon – he’s a friend of Chris Paul’s, and his perimeter-oriented game frees up more space for DeAndre Jordan to roam and dunk. Anthony also has a refined post game that unlocks small-ball lineups in which he is a nightmare matchup for power forwards on offense, as well as a shot-creator to ease Paul’s burden.
With all that said, he’s five years older, and costs $40 million more. And because Griffin’s out for so long, the Knicks may want sweeteners. That’s not happening; all Griffin needs to do to rehabilitate his image is to come back, apologize humbly, and continue to average the 23.2 points and 8.7 rebounds he was before this mess.
If Carmelo Was The Guy L.A. Needs, He Wouldn’t Be On The Block
If the Knicks were given truth serum, they’d be forced to admit they’re trying to trade an increasingly expensive, but declining asset. Anthony had major knee surgery last season, and this year has been forced to sit out games here and there with “soreness.” Not great for a guy exiting his prime. Anthony is one of the greatest scorers in league history, and he’s very popular among Knicks fans. If they believed he is still the star that they traded for in 2011, he would not be available.
The Clippers have to know this, and they have to be wary of trading a 26-year-old superstar for a 31-year-old aging one, while playing in a conference where two teams (Warriors, Spurs) have single-digit losses, and a third (Thunder) has arguably two of the five best players in the world.
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