OKC Thunder: NBA Power Rankings -Griffin buyout shifts ladder at half way mark

The All-Star Game was a bit of a bust and no, it’s not just because the OKC Thunder didn’t have a representative in the annual NBA big event. Despite using the Elam ending again, the players, team captain LeBron James selected was simply much deeper with copious playmakers and 3-point snipers who easily won.

In fact, the pull-up logo 3-pointers taken by Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard as well as Giannis Antetokounmpo’s perfect night (and those moments with his son) were about the only high points.

Yet the big news in Atlanta didn’t even happen on the court. Rather, it was the move by the Brooklyn Nets who will add Blake Griffin to their squad now that the Pistons have bought him out. Perhaps that was why Kyrie Irving ignored his scheduled media session and arrived at the arena with a six-foot walking stick. If not, maybe someone can explain that choice (shrug).

So here’s the thing — the Nets will likely sign Blake Griffin on a veteran minimum contract and that fact punctuates the very real need for the league to correct buyout situations within the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Ask yourself how many times a small-market franchise has benefited via a buyout player joining their squad. If the sound you’re hearing is crickets there’s a good reason.

And here’s why this transaction is so infuriating…

Griffin appeared in 138 of a possible 218 games while with the Pistons and earned $158,271,487.00 post buyout. For those wondering, that means Griffin earned $1,146,904.83 per game played.

If Griffin signs a veteran minimum contract with the Nets they can pay him $2.3 and $2.5 million. In other words, if this is the set fee, Griffin will provide the same services for Brooklyn for 36 games that the Pistons paid him for 1.5 games this season!

Power rankings for OKC Thunder and peers entering the second half

Because of the pandemic, this campaign reaches the mid-way point with half the games played. That’s an unusual dynamic as typically there is approximately 30 percent of games remaining not 50 percent.

Teams also generally begin a slow build to the playoffs but this scheduling dynamic will force teams to navigate the second half differently than in previous seasons.

In addition, the March 25th trade deadline could shake things up and no doubt the above move by the Nets will equate to copious teams being active in response.

Also of note, this league continues to deal with the effects of COVID-19 with the Raptors being the team hit hardest in week 11.  With Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons being pulled Sunday for contact tracing after contact with a barber who tested positive the 76ers could be impacted in the coming weeks.

Of note, these power rankings place emphasis on the specific week, opponent caliber, the season as a whole, overall prowess in key categories and gives credence to defense and net differential over offense when breaking ties.

With that, let’s dive into Intentions week 10 power rankings…