Former NBA All-Star Blake Griffin’s term with the Pistons appears to be heading towards an abrupt end. On Monday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that the two sides are working to separate ahead of next month’s negotiation deadline. Griffin’s declining output and high wages can result in a complicated but possible acquisition.
If Griffin reaches the acquisition market, Trail Blazers should be at the top of the list of potential suitors. Circularing back to Griffin would fit a pattern that basketball operations president Neil Olshey has adopted in recent years. Seriously, in addition to looking for talent in the second round and bidding against himself by rehiring players, chasing targets from the attacking court became Olshey’s move.
Olshey used this tactic not once, but twice during the 2019 off-season. When the Blazers acquired Hassan Whiteside in a four-team exchange before the 2019-20 season, Olshey made a point of highlighting his previous interest in the imposing center.
“Acquiring Hassan is an impact movement for our list,” said Olshey. “He is an elite shot blocker, rebounds and has paint on both ends of the floor. We have chased Hassan through various paths at various points in his career and we are excited to add him to our organization. “
A few weeks later, Olshey returned to the same line of thought after Pau Gasol signed a one-year contract with the Blazers.
“We are clearly excited to add Pau to our squad, a player with championship experience for a team with high expectations for the coming season,” said Trail Blazers basketball operations president Neil Olshey. “As you all know, he is a player that we pursued aggressively a few years ago at the free agency. We are ecstatic to have you join the Trail Blazers and become an essential part of our list going forward. “
The most important instance of this approach is linked to the current Blazers center, Enes Kanter. Recapping Portland’s previous interest in Kanter was one of the first observations Olshey made after the former Knicks pivot signed with the Blazers in the middle of the 2018-19 season.
The search for Griffin in the acquisition market would be one of the biggest payoffs in Olshey’s career. Their relationship spans more than a decade – since their time with the Clippers. Olshey was serving as the assistant general manager of the Clippers when Griffin was chosen with the No. 1 choice in the 2009 NBA Draft. Shortly after Griffin’s arrival in Los Angeles, Olshey was tasked with building the list that surrounded the former Oklahoma star.
Of course, Griffin is entering a new, less mobile era of his NBA career. But the recognition of his name and his previous relationship with Olshey should make him an obvious target for the Blazers if he enters the acquisition market. For Griffin, the goodwill that the Blazers built with Carmelo Anthony can serve as a starting point for the common interest. Furthermore, I doubt that any resentment will result from that 2017 contest.