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Detroit Pistons: Blake Griffin strikes out in free agency recruitment

By Brendan Triola

DETROIT, MI - APRIL 22: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons sits on the bench between teammates Zaza Pachulia #27 and Ish Smith #14 after fouling out against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of Game Four of the first round of the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on April 22, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Bucks defeated the Pistons in four straight games, 127-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 22: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons sits on the bench between teammates Zaza Pachulia #27 and Ish Smith #14 after fouling out against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of Game Four of the first round of the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on April 22, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Bucks defeated the Pistons in four straight games, 127-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – MARCH 15: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons drives the ball to the basket as JaVale McGee #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers defends during the fourth quarter of the game at Little Caesars Arena on March 15, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit defeated Los Angeles 111-97. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – MARCH 15: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons drives the ball to the basket as JaVale McGee #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers defends during the fourth quarter of the game at Little Caesars Arena on March 15, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit defeated Los Angeles 111-97. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

JaVale McGee

On the opening night of free agency, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported that JaVale McGee was going to meet with the Detroit Pistons. Could Griffin have reached out to McGee?

Griffin and McGee have an interesting relationship, dating all the way back to the dunk contest in 2011. In fact, McGee still feels like he was robbed of winning, but Griffin’s dunk over the Kia gave him the victory.

In an article for SB Nation in 2016, Tim Cato sat down with McGee to reflect on the contest. “It was in LA, Blake was there, so I felt like no matter what I did – it was the new vote on Twitter and online” McGee said.

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Griffin responded to McGee calling the competition rigged in an interview on Fox Sports with Kristine Leahy this past February, saying “Several of his dunks, took until the end of the shot clock,” Griffin said. “But when you watch the highlights, and they’re just showing the made dunks, it looks better.”

In January of 2018, not even a month before Griffin was traded to the Pistons, he took an inadvertent elbow from McGee in a game against the Warriors.

Griffin was ruled out of the game, and missed time with a concussion. There doesn’t appear to be any bad blood between the two, but Griffin and McGee are not known to be friends, and have never played together.

It is worth noting that Griffin and McGee spent time together meeting kids from Flint, Michigan, McGee’s hometown, when the Lakers traveled to play the Pistons last season.

As one of the few players with reported interest from the Pistons, it is quite possible that Griffin did send a message McGee’s way. Andre Drummond was also involved, commenting on Instagram that he wanted the big man to sign with him in Detroit.

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