The Detroit Pistons acquire Blake Griffin, but what does the future hold?

The Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Clippers shocked the NBA world with the announcement that Blake Griffin was being sent to the Motor City.

Without even a single hint or rumour of a deal involving Blake Griffin being mentioned in the days leading up, fans everywhere have been left stunned by the Detroit Pistons trading for the five-time All-Star.

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Fan response to the blockbuster trade from both franchises has been incredibly mixed.

Many Pistons fans are now optimistic that with Griffin onboard a push towards the playoff is back on the agenda.

However, just as many fans are sceptical about the price they paid for him and just how much money will be tied up in the former-number one draft pick.

The reported package currently includes Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic as well as a first and second-round draft pick.

In return, the Pistons receive Griffin, Willie Reed and Brice Johnson from the Los Angeles Clippers.

This trade confirms the Clippers are looking to retool, with reports also emerging that DeAndre Jordan and Lou Williams could potentially be up for sale.

They are currently ninth in the Western Conference standings with a 25-24 record.

Similarly, the Pistons have had their promising start to the season derailed after the injury bug struck Reggie Jackson again.

Instead of going into tank mode Stan Van Gundy has doubled down on the effort to make the playoffs for the second time under his guidance.

The pressure on Van Gundy’s job had been increasing recently, and with not too long left on his contract it was obvious that tanking for the future was not on the cards.

Dealing for Griffin is a high risk, high reward move.

When you look at it from Van Gundy’s perspective though, it would have been almost impossible to pass up.

The way the team was trending it would be inconceivable to imagine his contract being renewed once it expired.

Landing a genuine star like Blake Griffin immediately shifts the potential and outlook of this team.

Griffin has proven multiple times for the Clippers that he can lead a team with himself as the focal point, and while the goal will be to push for playoffs this season, next season all of a sudden seems so much more promising.

A current, healthy projected lineup for 2018-19 would be something along the lines of Jackson, Luke Kennard, Griffin and Andre Drummond, with either Reggie Bullock or Stanley Johnson as the small forward.

I think most people around the NBA would agree that is a solid, playoff worthy lineup.

Jackson, Kennard and Griffin offer you spacing, and there’s still the hope that Johnson finally perfects his jump shot, while Bullock has already proven this season that he’s deadly from range.

Defensively, things might be a little less optimistic.

Jackson and Griffin aren’t spectacular defenders, and the same goes for Kennard even though he hustles on every defensive play.

Drummond has stepped up defensively and Bullock/Johnson are defensive anchors, but it’s hard to see them being any better defensively than they were with the roster they had for over half this season.

Another potential problem for the future is that Griffin is being paid over $30 million until 2022.

This could develop into a significant problem for a team that was already dealing with minimal salary cap room.

Griffin is 28 years-old and extremely injury prone.

In three of his first four seasons he managed to play 80 or more games but since then he hasn’t even come close to playing out a healthy season.

The 67 games he played in the 2014-15 season is the best he has managed recently.

He’s already missed 16 games this season, which rightfully has sent some fans running scared.

Adding Griffin to a team where Reggie Jackson’s ongoing knee troubles have been a source of much pain could be catastrophic.

Would it be a surprise to anyone if in a year both Griffin and Jackson are sitting on the sidelines in street clothes?

The risk levels are off the charts, but the reward is so enticing.

It’s been a very long time since the Pistons have had a player of Blake Griffin’s calibre and he also fills a crucial role that has been hurting the team this year.

Trading Marcus Morris left the Pistons undersized, but bringing Griffin in will rectify that for the remaining 33 games.

The fact that he can create his own offence and is one of the most athletic players in the league are the cherry on top.

The package the Pistons gave up will also play a very interesting and intriguing role in deciding how this trade will be remembered in the years to come.

Boban Marjanovic was a cult favourite but was too often a liability that could only be played in very specific situations.

Avery Bradley is easily the biggest question mark of this trade.

Everybody was optimistic when Bradley found himself in Detroit, with the prospect of having one of the very best defenders in the league being mouthwatering.

However, it didn’t take long for almost everyone to turn on him.

His poor shot selection combined with defensive performance that hasn’t lived up to the hype has left many disappointed.

It’s not entirely clear why Bradley has had such a down season either.

It could be that the groin injury which has hampered him has had more impact than we realise, or maybe he was a product of Brad Stevens’ system in Boston.

Perhaps Detroit just wasn’t a good fit for the former All-Defensive first team player.

Easily the biggest loss is Tobias Harris.

Harris came to the Pistons with very little fanfare but quickly won over fans and at times was the clearcut best player on the team.

He, unfortunately, cooled down after Jackson’s injury this season, but prior to that Harris was making a genuine case to be in contention for Most Improved Player.

The Clippers will be getting themselves a great player, both on and off the court.

Right now the future is as cloudy as ever for the Detroit Pistons, but it’s clear that they’ve mortgaged the future for a shot at immediate success.

Whether that aspiration ends in flames or happiness, it’ll be enthralling to watch unfold.