A Ladder of Logic for Blake Griffin - New York Sports Nation

Whether or not the NBA season will continue, the future of both Detroit and the Knicks and any non-playoff team is the same.

Situation

They will have more time then they’ve ever had and they’re going to be evaluating things from a much less “liquid” standpoint.

It’s an economic term for depressed or repressed extended economic times. It just means that there’s going to be a lot riding on being prepared for the future due to the uncertainty.

There are rumors of the Knicks going star hunting which leaves a bad taste in most fans’ mouths when this organization has tried to do for decades at this point.

It also doesn’t have to be strictly one thing or another, but a flexible one that positions a team to react better and build credibility.

As for the difficulty, it actually wouldn’t be that trying to do the trade. Detroit has $34.2 million in cap space (4 players) coming off the books this year. Not only that, but $20.2 million the following year (another 4), $7.3 million is also attached to D. Rose and his rising stock. Even if they pay Christian Wood over market value, there’s moderate space before any trade. Derrick Rose will be expiring the next year with his value increasing. It’s not relatively large either so in theory, it could also be moved in a separate transaction with many teams. It sums up that Detroit’s focus would be a group of players, some young, and some draft compensation.

Leveraging the above with the Knicks $11.1 million (Moe Harkless) coming off the books and $49.1 million in expiring spread over seven players leave lots of salary matching, and an ability to shed a lot of cap space very quickly. That and being able to plug the hole of “back up point who aspires to start” as Rose who at minimum missed 16 games since his injury (the average is 24 missed*) would be a theoretical fit. It makes it better if the direction would be to move Rose as if the value goes up.

Blake’s contract is large and looming ($105 million over 3), but if the Knicks are in any sort of discussions about trading for Kevin Love ($120 over 4), this would be a better version of that based off the contract. Both of these contracts were unmovable the past season due to teams and available space. Blake Griffin is also a bigger star and while Kevin Love is far from a nobody, the difference in their celebrity is distinct.

Proposals

New York Knicks: Blake Griffin (F)

Detroit Pistons: players and draft picks

*removing three seasons where Rose played less than 30 games

Option 1

Players: Dennis Smith Jr. (G), Julius Randle (F), & Bobby Portis (F/C)

Draft Compensation: 2021 1st Round pick (Dallas), and 2021 2nd Round pick (Charlotte)

Option 2

Players: Elfrid Payton (G), Taj Gibson (F/C), Bobby Portis (F/C)

Draft Compensation: 2020 1st Round pick (Clippers), 2023 1st Round pick (Dallas), and 2021 2nd Round pick (Charlotte)

Case

There are a lot more options and flexibility with both teams having cap space opening up, these just work as far as money matching to involve less balancing math. Detroit has shown interest in Frank in the recent past as well and Knox’s future is the new “thing” to question. They would likely be asking for one of our young players. These deals don’t have to be negotiable as far as offering them goes. Blake is a contract Detroit would like to at minimum spread out. They acquired him for a reason and now they’re focus has shifted. They would love to know the market for him, but Forbes Pistons contributor Duncan Smith does not seem to think there’s a market for Blake.

If it comes to attempting to negotiate their options, we’re doing them a favor. It hastens the Pistons rebuild, not perfectly but the draft compensation is there to make up for it. If they want one of the Knicks picks or young players, NYK can walk away as there’s already an exchange of favors.

Both teams can see a victory that they can sell to their fans or bosses. Most of the above are focused on Detroit’s “sell”.

Focusing on the Knicks, New York gets the disgruntled star due to a change of approach in Detroit.

New York is giving their young players the opportunity to grow with more physical playing time. The risk lies with the uncertainty of Griffin’s production post-surgery. His contract is massive and one that was not attracting any suitors prior. Taking out his play this year because he was clearly injured, he was averaging 22 points / 7.5 rebounds / and 5.5 assists on league average three-point percentage (35.4%) the two prior years. He’s also experienced one of the most disrespectful trades in NBA history.

The best context is from himself but he was just given a huge extension under the idea of being a franchise player and traded within six months is shocking at a minimum. In a short time, there were rumors of trade locals in his preference and the Knicks were one of those teams.