Pros of the OKC Thunder trading for Blake Griffin
As we stated earlier, Blake Griffin could benefit from a change in scenery. The Detroit Pistons traded for the power forward not to rebuild, but the Pistons sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference at 9-23. They have nothing to gain by keeping BG, which is why he has been on the bench the past few weeks as management looks for possible trade suitors.
OKC Thunder enters stage left.
Sam Presti is undoubtedly all too familiar with the Oklahoma standout. Since fan-favorites such as Steven Adams and Russell Westbrook are long gone, the city could use another source of energy in the form of a Thunder player.
It is no secret that the OKC Thunder are in a rebuild, but that does not mean this team should not be allowed to bring some excitement back to the city. Griffin offers excitement because he is a household name across the Sooner State.
Sure, he won’t be the same Blake Griffin who is jumping out of the gym, but pretty soon fans will be wanting to come out to see the OKC Thunder play, and he could ignite Chesapeake Energy Arena. This trade could almost work in a symbiotic way to bring the fans’ energy and the fans bringing him some much-needed support.
Griffin would work seamlessly with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the pick and roll game. Blake has enough size to remain interchangeable between the forward and center position due to the Thunder roster being somewhat undersized.
BG would provide a spark, albeit not a massive jolt, and could provide enough energy to get people excited about Thunder basketball because one thing this franchise has always had is a player that attracts attention.
The pros for bringing Blake Griffin into the organization are more so intangible rather than tangible, almost in a way that seems as if loyalty meant more than the actual game of basketball itself. One could argue that would be the best decision to make while the franchise is going through a rebuild, but at what cost?