Detroit Pistons: The one Blake Griffin trade that sort of makes sense

Detroit Pistons: Trading Blake Griffin to the Thunder

The Pistons are staring down the barrel of having to pay Blake Griffin big money to play for another team.

That is precisely what will happen if they can’t find a trade partner, as they will have to buy him out, essentially picking up someone else’s tab and getting nothing in return except a few million in cap space.

Al Horford’s contract does run one more year than Blake’s so the Pistons would be taking on more declining years, but Horford isn’t declining nearly as much as Blake and could still be a valuable member of the team.

Horford is having a decent season, and even though he is 34-years-old, his game does not rely on athleticism, so his last few seasons shouldn’t be a complete disaster.

Horford is a smart veteran and one of the best team defenders of his generation, so he’d be a great guy to mentor players like Isaiah Stewart.

Ariza would be coming off the books after this season, so the Pistons would pick up more cap space than they will in a Blake Griffin buyout, as he is not likely to give up $12-15 million in salary.

It’s not a slam dunk and the Thunder might want additional assets like a 2nd-round pick, but it is something to consider and the Detroit Pistons wouldn’t hang up the phone.

-roun