After that, Griffin's cell phone kept ringing, and many teammates sent messages or called Griffin to express their surprise at the deal. "After hearing this news, I was shocked directly." Austin rivers said.
2065438+20081October 29th, Los Angeles Clippers sent Blake Griffin, Bryce Johnson and willie reed to Detroit Pistons in exchange for Tobias Harris, avery bradley and Bo Ban Majanovic, a first-round draft pick of 2065438+2008 and a draft pick of 2065438. In last summer's draft, the Clippers selected the outstanding rookie Shea Kyrgyzstan Alexander with the traded draft pick.
In the era of well-informed media, the deal between Clippers and Pistons is rare. Before the transaction was formally concluded, there was almost no news, but no one expected it to be such a heavyweight transaction in advance. "I never thought I would be traded." Griffin said, "I don't think anyone else will think of it."
The Clippers' move is equivalent to officially ending the "empty city" era. In seven months, chris paul and Blake Griffin were traded one after another, and the reconstruction process was completely started. When Griffin was traded, it was about a week before the closing date on February 8 last year. Clippers players didn't expect management to trade at this time. However, austin rivers and Andrew Jordan have long expected that they are not in the team's future development plan and will definitely be traded, either at the deadline or next season.
"When the deal first happened, we all felt that the best player in the team had left. I can't believe that the team will trade Blake, which is hard to accept. " Austin rivers said. A year ago, Griffin still had plans to die for the Clippers, just like Kobe Bryant of the Lakers, Dirk Nowitzki of the Lone Ranger and Tim Duncan of the Spurs. Who would have thought that Griffin was still immersed in the joy of the five-year contract of $6543.8+$73 billion provided by the Clippers, and was traded by the team in less than seven months.
During the offseason of 20 17, the Clippers experienced a great turmoil. Originally, the Clippers planned to reshuffle the management in April or May before the offseason and introduce a senior basketball operator. Instead, Paul's trade was opened, danilo gallinari was signed, and then the Clippers hired Jerry West as a team consultant. A week later, the Clippers and Griffin reached a five-year contract extension of 65438+73 million. A month later, doc rivers stepped down as the president of the team's basketball operation and continued to serve as the head coach. Lawrence frank took over as president of basketball operation. Three weeks later, the Clippers hired michael caine as general manager, and mark hughes and Trent Leiden as assistant general managers.
At the beginning of the 20 17- 18 season, Clippers management kept a wait-and-see attitude and carefully considered which players were in line with the future development direction of the team and could stay. After the 4-0 start, the Clippers lost to Detroit Pistons. After that, the Clippers' performance became worse and worse, and they lost 1 1 in the next 12 games, including 9 consecutive defeats. Blake Griffin, the core player, has been suffering from injuries. The Clippers have lost confidence in Griffin's future since he missed a month with a left knee injury.
Originally, the Clippers planned to build a competitive team around Griffin. In this case, the Clippers will choose to keep Jordan Jr. in the summer of 20 18 and play with Griffin, Jordan Jr. and Gallinari as the core for at least two seasons. Clippers are also worried that this plan will affect the upper limit of the team's future development, especially the general trend of the league is to play faster and faster and pay attention to outside projection.
Griffin's big contract brings more pressure to the salary space every year. The injury made Clippers management panic and began to assume the possibility of trading Griffin's lineup. Until the end of 12, the team's record was less than 50%, and the Clippers began to seriously consider the possibility of trading Griffin. Originally, the Clippers planned to start trading Griffin on the offseason of 20 18 or the closing day of 20 19, but the negotiations with Detroit Pistons changed the Clippers' plans.
The initial discussion with Pistons was casual, and the Clippers understood that Pistons wanted to facilitate this big deal. After the Pistons started the season with 17- 18 with 14 wins and 6 losses, their record declined all the way, and finally they fell to the edge of the playoffs, and head coach Stan Van Gundy was in danger of being laid off. Piston management now believes that the team needs to reorganize the core of the team or greatly strengthen it. Considering Detroit is a small ball market, few superstars in the free agent market want to join the Pistons, so the only way to sign a contract is to trade.
At this time, the clippers are considering how much the piston is willing to pay. They definitely want Griffin, but the Clippers don't want to trade Griffin so soon. So Clippers management began to discuss the risk of trading Griffin, not just the risk of basketball. Many Clippers fans like Griffin very much, which may be the favorite player in Clippers history. The glory of the Clippers can not be separated from Griffin's contribution. If Griffin hadn't played an amazing rookie season in 2010-1,chris paul wouldn't have decided to join the Clippers in 20 1 1 and 65438+February. Without the dunk show of the Griffin Clippers explosion, there would be no empty city name. Without Griffin, even Doug Rivers may not want to leave Boston Celtics to join the Los Angeles Clippers, so the Clippers are probably the bottom team in the league.
Therefore, the team is worried that the transaction will leave Griffin and the fans will make trouble. You just renewed your contract with Griffin seven months ago, and now you're leaving? Loyalty and team image will be questioned, and season ticket holders will even choose to refund their tickets. How many people would like to see a team without superstars?
The deal went to Griffin, and the Clippers' internal management fought. The main worries about this deal are team owners steve ballmer and Frank, who are closely related to Griffin in their lives and work, so this deal is very difficult for them. After several days of sleepless discussions, the management reached an agreement that it was wise to make a deal with Pistons, and the Clippers gave priority to Pistons' 25-year-old forward Tobias Harris and a first-round draft pick protected by the lowest draft.
Before the deal was formally concluded, the negotiation between Pistons and Clippers took about 9- 10 days. If the deal is reached, the Clippers will have to send Griffin away and move on. "It's difficult and boring for us." Doc rivers said, "And Griffin is willing to stay in the team and see himself as a part of the team's future, which is very important." Actually, we should call him, whether he answers or not, or at least we should. Although I know he doesn't want to answer our phone calls, I can understand what he did, and there is nothing wrong with it. But this is just business, and the team must consider what is the most beneficial decision for the future. I am also one of the decision makers of this transaction. I agreed to the deal, and I think it was the right thing to do. "
In mid-February last year, 65438, at the Pistons Training Ground in auburn hills, Michigan, the Pistons just finished a short video conference. After the players walked out of the video room, some went to the dressing room and some went to the training ground. Young people in most teams choose to go to the training ground to train with the player development coach. Griffin returned to the dressing room, came out with bare arms in a few minutes, and conducted tailor-made training with reggie jackson, Luke Kennard and Carey Thomas. The right low double-team accurately passed the ball to the three-point shooter near the weak bottom corner. After training for about half an hour, Griffin returned to the dressing room.
"Griffin set an example for other athletes." Dwayne Casey, head coach of Pistons, said, "Few veterans are willing to stay and practice with young players after training. Such behavior is rare. " Coach Casey said Griffin is the undisputed leader of the Pistons and he is willing to take responsibility. The biggest difference between Pistons and Clippers is that he doesn't have to face roaring chris paul and other outspoken veterans: Chauncey Billups, jamal crawford, matt barnes, JJ Lei Dike and paul pierce at the peak.
"Now I definitely have more say than before." When talking about his current role in the team, Griffin said, "Here, I am more about pointing out the problems I see and helping young players grow up. In Los Angeles, because the team is older, everyone knows what they need to do. This is very different. The present situation is more challenging for me. I will solve these problems and find a way to lead the team. " Today's Pistons let Griffin do what he couldn't do during the Clippers, let Griffin organize the attack, fully released Griffin's point guard potential and further developed Griffin's ability. Griffin is a big man with excellent passing ability, and his ball control ability, dribbling to create shooting opportunities and three-point projection ability are constantly improving.
"In fact, we're not going to do that. We originally planned to play pick-and-roll tactics with Griffin this season. " Pistons head coach Dwayne Dwayne Casey said, "Later, we found that somehow Griffin handled the ball in various positions on the court and became one of our most efficient tactics." In the offseason of the first two seasons, Griffin and trainer Noah Laroche trained together in LA, focusing on the training of three-point shooting ability. Therefore, except for the three-point data improvement, the rest of the data are basically the same as Griffin, who performed best in the Clippers period. But after coming to Pistons, the improved three-point ability helped Griffin open more offensive means.
"He must improve his range and must be regarded as a powerful outside scoring threat. I am very happy to see that he has done it now. " Celtics coach brad stevens commented on Griffin, "After the three-point threat, the defender must defend the three-point line, especially when setting up pick-and-roll or cover tactics for Griffin."
"I have been working hard to improve my three points, and now I feel very comfortable." Griffin talked about his progress in three-pointers. "And considering the current situation of the team, I need to shoot these three-pointers, so my three-pointers have increased this year, but I have tried to shoot three-pointers like this before, and now it is more comfortable and effective."
Before the Pistons came to Griffin, they were 22 wins and 26 losses, followed by 17 wins 17 losses, and ended the season with 39 wins and 43 losses, almost reaching the playoffs. This season, the Pistons started with 13 wins and 7 losses, and now they rank ninth in the East with 18 wins and 23 losses. The harvest of this transaction has reached the expectation of Pistons. The team has added an all-star player, which can become the team's signboard, and the team has gained more activity that has been lacking in recent seasons. If you look around the hall and the inside of Pistons' home court and go to Pistons' shop, you will find Griffin's influence. Pistons really like teams with such superstars.
In recent seasons, deals about superstars have been mixed, either very successful or very unsuccessful. It may be too early to judge the Clippers-Pistons trade. At present, the Clippers have achieved the purpose of trading Griffin. For the first time in ten years, the Clippers have assets and salary space that can change the future of the team. This year, the Clippers can have a salary of 7 1 10,000, even enough to introduce two superstars. Since the establishment of the new management in August 2007, the direction of the team has been very clear. "This is a great deal for us, and it may be a very successful deal for the Detroit Pistons. Griffin played great in Pistons, but we won't regret it. We know that we really need to make some changes. This is just business, and Griffin doesn't have any personal problems. "
Harris, the Clippers, performed brilliantly this season and even had a chance to be selected as an All-Star. Not surprisingly, there will be a maximum salary contract waiting for him this summer. Shea Kyrgyzstan Alexander was voted as the most underrated rookie by the general managers of each team before the start of the season, and he has every chance to grow into the cornerstone of the team in the future. His performance far exceeded the management's expectation and he got the position of starting point guard. Both teams will be an indispensable part of the team's future development.
Avery bradley's performance this season is not stable enough, and the contract signed with the Clippers is still not guaranteed. At the end of the season, if the team does not intend to stay, he is likely to be directly abandoned or traded by the team. Boban Marjanovic's performance was very efficient and won the favor of fans, but he will also become a free agent this summer. More importantly, the Clippers have shown good competitiveness this season without superstars. At present, they rank sixth in the west with 24 wins 18 losses, far exceeding pre-season expectations.
"In my opinion, this transaction is really a win-win situation." Lawrence frank, president of Clippers Basketball Operations, said, "I think both sides' expectations have been realized before the transaction, and I am also very satisfied with the players we exchanged. I know the Detroit Pistons are also satisfied with Griffin, who has continued his all-star performance. When the transaction happened, we all felt uncomfortable, but when we saw Griffin's performance now, we were all happy for him and wished him all the best. "
The Clippers' plans for austin rivers and Jordan Jr. are similar to what they expected. Neither of them returned after the offseason last year. Jordan Jr. joined the Dallas Lone Ranger, and Rivers Jr. was traded to the Washington Wizards in exchange for March Gotthard of the Clippers. Wesley johnson was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans before the start of the season. Since then, all the players in the empty city era have left the Clippers.
"Everything is over, starting with chris paul's departure." Doug Rivers said, "I think we know exactly what needs to be done now, so it all happened naturally. Jordan Jr., Rivers Jr. and Griffin, they really should go. But I want to say that no matter what the outcome, we will always owe Griffin, Jordan Jr. and Griffin. "
The most glorious era in Clippers' history is over, which makes us begin to assume: If Clippers had found the right way to play, what height would the team have reached? Will it become the second strongest team in the West after Golden State Warriors? "Of course, this assumption is very interesting." After a pause, Griffin continued, "But now everyone is playing happily in their respective teams, which is also great."
A few weeks ago, when Griffin used the data analysis system to watch the way his opponent defended himself in the past, he accidentally discovered a phenomenon in the old Clippers player interface. "A closer look reveals that these people are not on the Clippers." Griffin said, "It's strange that the old Clippers roster is full of signs of leaving the team. "
None of the members of the Los Angeles Clippers joined before June 20 17, but strictly speaking, there is one exception: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Bamot played with Griffin on the Clippers in 2065 438+05-2065 438+07, then went to the Houston Rockets for a season and returned to the Clippers last summer.
On February 9, 20 18, more than a week after the Griffin deal was reached, the Pistons were challenged by the Clippers at home. ESPN broadcast the game live to the whole country, and the whole game was very tense. "This feeling is very strange." Doc rivers said, "I know they want to beat us, and of course we want to beat them. This has nothing to do with personal relationships." This happens when a player in the team is traded. "
Griffin said in an interview before the game that the Clippers were just one of the teams they needed to win, and he didn't want the media to over-interpret his remarks. At the same time, he said that his relationship with his teammates last season was misunderstood. "It's hard to see those familiar guys standing on their opposite side." Griffin said, "A lot of my words last season were ambiguous, probably because the Clippers lineup changed so fast that I felt uneasy." At that time, there were only about five or six players I was familiar with. I really don't want some of my words to be misunderstood. I told my friends before that I don't want to play against the Clippers so soon because there are some teammates who have fought side by side. I really loved the Clippers at that time. After being traded, I try to keep the idea that the Clippers are just one of the teams we want to beat, but I still hope to play against them in the future, because my mood will be calmer. "
A year later, Griffin's mood eased a lot. According to people in Griffin's team, what Griffin cares about most at present is that he should have been informed of the deal with dignity by the management, rather than accidentally learning about it on Twitter. "I have never experienced such a thing." Griffin talked about how he felt when he was traded. "My future is full of unknowns. When I got the news, my mind was blank. "
Griffin's emotions were the most complicated when he returned to Staples Center against the Clippers. He doesn't know how he will feel, but he hopes it will be a warm and beautiful reunion. For Griffin, it will be even more exciting to see many familiar Clippers fans and some season ticket holders who have been close to each other for nine years. Of course, he is also looking forward to meeting the Clippers staff. After all, he has not known them for a long time. "I stayed there for such a long time that it is almost impossible to forget it." Griffin said, "fortunately, I have settled down again and my mood is much calmer."
When he mentioned that he was in Los Angeles, it was obvious that Griffin's speech slowed down. He knows that the Clippers' biggest opponent in the playoffs is injury. In the series with Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets, his frustration and loss were no less than those of other players, even the most. However, Griffin said that he is more willing to look back on his time with the Clippers in a positive manner, those times when he played alongside players such as chris paul, Andrew Jordan and doc rivers. "I will selectively review those beautiful memories, and there are many warm moments worth remembering." Griffin said, "I have learned a lot and grown a lot along the way."
If today's game is more about the memory of Griffin, it should be more about gratitude to the Clippers. Although Griffin made some fierce comments on social media after the deal, the Clippers didn't care. Before the game, the team expressed their gratitude to Griffin in the form of video. Earlier, Jordan Jr. and Rivers Jr. received the same treatment when they visited the Clippers' home court.
"Before Griffin came, the Clippers were a team where no players wanted to come." Doug Rivers said, "The team began to become competitive after welcoming Griffin, Paul and Jordan Jr. No matter what the Clippers do in the future, their initial contributions are indelible. They deserve our eternal gratitude and always remember his identity as a clipper. "
Original: Jovan Buha
Compile: sunny day