The process may be about to speed up. According to Sam Amico, NBA Insider for Fox Sports Ohio, the Sixers and Clippers have discussed a trade that would send the five time all star to Philadelphia.
Both Sixers and Nuggets have had discussions with Clippers about Blake Griffin, per league sources. @sn_nba earlier reported Nuggets talks.
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) February 5, 2016
There are no reports discussing what kind of package the Sixers would need to give up to land Griffin, however, it is clear that the Clippers are actively shopping the power forward.
Griffin, 26, is out for the rest of the season will a broken hand. He was injured after punching the Clipper’s assistant equipment manager back in January. TMZ Sports recently acquired a picture of Blake Griffin and the damage to his hand is obvious.
BLAKE GRIFFIN's HAND — 1st look, post fight… & it's f'ed up. Swollen, scarred… https://t.co/fHcZDJSwFx pic.twitter.com/kNNDQ3SI3e
— mike babcock || tmz (@michaeljb1) February 3, 2016
This is a very opportunistic time for the Sixers to make a deal such as this. Philadelphia is clearly not competing for a title this season which makes Blake Griffin’s injury recovery a non factor during trade discussion. Acquiring Griffin would also give the Sixers flexibility at the power forward position. Neither Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel are ideal fits at the position and Dario Saric, currently playing overseas, is no lock to solidify the position in the future. A Griffin trade would allow Philadelphia to trade either Okafor, Noel or Joel Embiid down the road to acquire more pieces to bolster the roster.
It is clear that the relationship between Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers has broken down. The Clippers will move their one time cornerstone player before this year’s deadline. Years and years of acquiring assets has led to this moment. There is still a long way to go but this could be the deal that puts the 76ers back on the map.
