The 24-24 Miami Heat are looking to add to their currently assembled playoff roster, and while Anthony Davis is the hottest player on the market, it may be the Detroit Pistons’ Blake Griffin who could force his way into a Heat jersey.
As the Miami Heat just got back to a .500 record in the Eastern Conference, there could be a worse off team that is treading water to make the playoffs in the Detroit Pistons.
The Pistons just recently acquired the former LA Clippers’ All-Star Blake Griffin last season, and even with conflicting reports, he could potentially be done with the organization that has constantly failed him this season with their inconsistent production, per Brandon Robinson of Basketball Society.
Hearing rumblings in Detroit that Blake Griffin does NOT want to be with the Pistons & privately has shared he wants out.
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) January 27, 2019
Team chemistry is an issue!
Did you see this post game interview the other day in their win?!
Team started 13-8. They’re now 21-27 & in 10th place. pic.twitter.com/8svutFpDhM
However, via the Detroit Free Press, Griffin was quoted calling Detroit his, “home,” following Monday’s practice, so this could all be hoopla with the Davis drama happening over the past 24 hours.
The Pistons still have a tangible chance to make the playoffs this year, currently being the 9th seed, Griffin is having one of the best seasons of his career, so it is possible we can assume Griffin does not want to play in his prime for a team that has been historically bad since the early-mid 2000s, even if it may be, “home.”
In fact, everything that Heat nation desperately wants to think about a Bam Adebayo ceiling is essentially the way Griffin has been playing this season.
2018-19 stats: 26.5 PPG, 8.1 TRB, 5.2 AST, with shooting splits of 48.2/36.5/76.0.
With Griffin’s career highs and his outstanding play next to big man Andre Drummond, the Heat should immediately try their best to acquire the big man who has been rumored to want out of Detroit, or at least is unhappy with the organization, and may want out in the near future.
Moreover, Robinson went on to illustrate the potential teams Griffin could play for by the end of the February 7th trade deadline below:
"“If Blake Griffin is moved, look for New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets & Miami Heat as his preferred destinations.”"
While the Knicks, Mavericks, and Nuggets all have just as good assets as Miami, Griffin could try and be dealt with South Florida as his preferred location because there is not a more similar environment to an LA team outside of Miami, Florida.
Ultimately, I believe that Detroit will want instant talent back for Griffin’s talents, paired with draft picks, and Miami has both of those, but it is how much they are willing to give up that matters. Expect some trade ideas soon, as the deadline is around the corner and we will continue to report the numerous quiet and loud whispers that are happening all over the internet.