Miami Heat: Is Blake Griffin The Answer At Power Forward?

In this summer’s upcoming free agency class, the Miami Heat will need to weigh their options thoroughly. In addition to acquiring a traditional point guard or perhaps a three-level scorer, another area-of-need is a serviceable power forward to play alongside Bam Adebayo.

Other than size and length, there are other important factors that should be considered, such as defensive versatility, an ability to rebound, and for what’s been most preferred by coach Erik Spoelstra, an ability to space the floor. They’re all vital characteristics on the Heat’s improvement list.

After an unsuccessful title run with the Brooklyn Nets, six-time NBA All-Star, Blake Griffin, seemingly checks-off all of those boxes as a versatile and old-school Heat power forward.

Earlier in March, the Heat were among several teams interested in signing Griffin once he was bought-out by the Detroit Pistons.

However, after clearing waivers, Griffin would sign a one-year minimum deal worth $1.5 million to join the Nets, another mid-season addition for a team that was highly-favored when it came to hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy this summer.

For a player once widely-known as one of the league’s most genetically-gifted athletes, the former Slam Dunk Champion’s statistical numbers and physical abilities have all trended downward in recent years. Griffin’s last All-Star selection was only two years ago, but after significant knee injuries and multiple team-fallouts, his role has become more diminished.

In the 2018-19 season, Griffin appeared in 75 games with the Pistons and averaged 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.4 assists, on a career-high 36 percent from beyond the arc (188 of 522 attempts). Since then, he’s trended downward to just 12.3 points on under 40 percent shooting overall.