Shams: Blake Griffin signs with the Nets! (Vets Minimum Deal)

[Hello Brooklyn]

Looks like Blake might come here. I think we can use him at the C position.

New rotation:

Harden/Shamet
Kyrie/Brown
KD/Harris
Green/Claxton
Blake/Jordan

OR

Harden/Shamet
Kyrie/Brown
Harris/Green
KD/Claxton
Blake/Jordan

Ew at moving to big lineups to accommodate a washed up Blake.

lol f'n kill me if he not only comes here but we shift out lineup to START this bum.

If he wasn't motivated in Detroit, how would he be motivated in what rightfully should be a 3rd or 4th guy off the bench role?

Bruh Harden literally quit on Houston and came here and balled out.

You don't think Blake will be motivated to win a **** Championship?

[Hello Brooklyn]

I mean, depth is depth. We don't really have to play the guy that much if he's not that effective. I'm sure we're gonna experiment with 2-big lineups with Griffin and one of Jordan or Claxton, and if it doesn't work out...then we won't do that anymore.

But I mean, we're giving Roberson spot minutes. Can Griffin really be any worse? He's a lot stronger than Green or Claxton, I think for certain matchups where we need to match up with a big man down low, Griffin might be the better answer defensively.

Exactly. What is the downside here?

Just cut him if it doesn't work.

[therealbig3]

Looks like Blake might come here. I think we can use him at the C position.

New rotation:

Harden/Shamet
Kyrie/Brown
KD/Harris
Green/Claxton
Blake/Jordan

OR

Harden/Shamet
Kyrie/Brown
Harris/Green
KD/Claxton
Blake/Jordan

Ew at moving to big lineups to accommodate a washed up Blake.

We needed a big lineup anyway. Everyone here was clamoring for Drummond or McGee.

Are you telling me Blake is worse than those guys?

I mean, we've been winning with smaller lineups and one actual big. And our best statistical lineup for most of the year has been with KD at the 4 and Green at the 5.

Also, yeah, great argument can be made that Drummond and McGee are flat out better at this point. Griffin is a much smarter player than either one though, so I trust him to figure out how to properly fit in more than those guys.

I just see this as some big man depth though, I don't think we need to completely change our rotation unless Griffin proves he can be effective and help us win.

[MGrand15]

Kind of confused by our interest. Unless he's cool with DeAndre and is OK with 10th man type role, I just don't see the fit. He's not a good defender, rebounder, or shooter. He's a pretty good passer and let's say he's motivated, he can be a decent scorer. Is that really what we need? How does that help?

Maybe I'm missing something. He has a bunch of options that actually can offer him legit playing time too. Miami, Golden State.

[Basileus777]

Looks like Blake might come here. I think we can use him at the C position.

New rotation:

Harden/Shamet
Kyrie/Brown
KD/Harris
Green/Claxton
Blake/Jordan

OR

Harden/Shamet
Kyrie/Brown
Harris/Green
KD/Claxton
Blake/Jordan

Ew at moving to big lineups to accommodate a washed up Blake.

We needed a big lineup anyway. Everyone here was clamoring for Drummond or McGee.

Are you telling me Blake is worse than those guys?

Why do we need a big lineup? It's completely contrary to what this team does well and the strengths of its roster to play 2 bigs.

Blake can be fine as a backup center, but it creates a huge minutes clog where you have Claxton, DJ, Blake, and Green that all play their minutes at the 5.

[Hello Brooklyn]

Ew at moving to big lineups to accommodate a washed up Blake.

We needed a big lineup anyway. Everyone here was clamoring for Drummond or McGee.

Are you telling me Blake is worse than those guys?

I mean, we've been winning with smaller lineups and one actual big. And our best statistical lineup for most of the year has been with KD at the 4 and Green at the 5.

Also, yeah, great argument can be made that Drummond and McGee are flat out better at this point. Griffin is a much smarter player than either one though, so I trust him to figure out how to properly fit in more than those guys.

I just see this as some big man depth though, I don't think we need to completely change our rotation unless Griffin proves he can be effective and help us win.

I mean at 6'9 is Griffin even considered a traditional big? If anything he fits into our small lineups.

I don't buy that Drummond or McGee are better at all. Blake has clearly been playing his way out of Detroit all year.

I still think if motivated he can play way better than those guys. Not only that but he would have incredible chemistry with Harden and KD.

And like you said hes way smarter and has been part of winning teams before.

I frankly have no problem giving TLC's and some of Jordan's minutes to him.

[Claud]

Not sure how much Blake has left in the tank but talent is talent.

The fact that he can win a chip this season surely will be great motivation to be the best he can be.

I think even we land Blake it doesn't mean we would lose interest in a McGee or Drummond. I can see Blake + Drummond coming on board + maybe some other pieces with Dinwiddie getting moved.

[vincecarter4pres]

I know he's been trash this year, but this is exciting if he comes here.

You can hopefully work him in for 18+ mpg during the regular season to keep our key guys healthy and maybe 10 per game in the playoffs.

That's a point that no one's touching upon. Say he's mediocre, but playable as solid veteran minute eater for some arbitrary number like 12 minutes per during the rest of the regular season? During the playoffs things tighten up and he's 8 mpg with a couple dnp's every series. But then maybe we're in the Finals having a struggle bus game 5, tied 2-2. Nash brings him in early second quarter and he turns the clock back and goes off, helping us storm back from like 17 down and plays 28 sick minutes to help us take a 3-2 lead. At that point, that is when you're going to look at him and say, this exact moment, is exactly the reason Griffin was brought on instead of some bum like MKG. He didn't have to be good, or even average consistently. He just needs to not be bad a majority of the time and occasionally he wakes up and has an, ah ha! moment and wins us a game.

Lastly, if he chooses us, that's a great thing. Yes chooses us. We're not choosing him. As reports say, LAL, LAC, GSW, and the Heat are going to pursue him. That's a lot of smart, well run, playoff teams that would like to add him. He's a super low risk, super high upside, no brainer.

[vincecarter4pres]

Not sure how much Blake has left in the tank but talent is talent.

The fact that he can win a chip this season surely will be great motivation to be the best he can be.

I think even we land Blake it doesn't mean we would lose interest in a McGee or Drummond. I can see Blake + Drummond coming on board + maybe some other pieces with Dinwiddie getting moved.

I think Drummond probably wouldn't come here if Blake does and looks solid. But that's fine. Drummond could be a great add on his own, but he's a maddeningly frustrating player a lot of the time despite his ridiculous counting stats.

McGee would still be attainable and be a good tandem though.

As Prok and others have alluded to, I'd also take McGee over Drummond.

And I still think Dinwiddie will be shopped, or even inquired about and might bring back a guy like Terrence Ross and Birch, or Griffin's teammate, Plumlee, as two examples.

[Paradise]

UPDATE: Nets emerge as a top frontrunner for Griffin.

Read on Twitter

Keep in mind, we could still move Dinwiddie (providing he chooses not to re-sign or opt in) by the deadline, add Griffin and two other pieces by waiving Shumpert, Roberson, Cook.

[Paradise]

Griffin expected to sign with Brooklyn for a title shot

Read on Twitter

[Hello Brooklyn]

Drummond to me doesn't provide anything we need with the emergence of Claxton. Griffin I think has way more upside and I could see him going off in a playoff game where maybe Harden is having an off night.

[vincecarter4pres]

Drummond to me doesn't provide anything we need with the emergence of Claxton. Griffin I think has way more upside and I could see him going off in a playoff game where maybe Harden is having an off night.

This.

[Whiskey Slick]

Even if I concede Blake Griffin is half the player he was in his prime. Heck, even a Quarter of the player he was in his prime, that still makes him a massive upgrade over the likes of Roberson or Cook, one of the two I expect to be released to make room for Griffin, and THAT ALONE makes it an upward move. That's an upgrade to the roster as a whole regardless of position. So I'm ALL IN on picking up Griffin.

Also I'm sure he'll be excited to join the Nets, a championship contender. That and playing with better talent like Harden as a facilitator, for example, should automatically make him a better player.

[DarkXaero]

If people don't have a problem with us trying out the likes of Roberson, Shumpert, Tyler Cook, etc., why are they making a big deal over Blake Griffin?

[HardenGoat]

You have to focus on the most likely teams we are going to be facing and then do a match up. Obviously the 76ers are first, and the key players are Embiid and Horford who are post up nightmares. We need to focus on stopping a player like Horford. I think PJ Tucker and a rim protector like McGee would be enough. Tucker is underrated at holding bigs off the paint and can defend all 5 positions. In the finals it will be the Lakers if AD remains healthy. If AD is hurt we might see Clippers, I doubt Jazz will make it despite their early success but they are a similar matchup like the Clippers. I think we already match up well and even Claxton is probably going to be effective as they tend to be perimeter teams and not paint bullies. PJ Tucker would help us against any team since he can defend AD and bigs plus multiple positions. I think it's a toss up with Drummond, he might help against Embiid but not so much against Clippers. If we can get Tucker and McGee and maybe another perimeter defender like Nwaba we should be good. Iam not sure about Griffin but if he is a buyout low risk why not, he would have to move the ball and set up picks with less post ups though.

[Hello Brooklyn]

You have to focus on the most likely teams we are going to be facing and then do a match up. Obviously the 76ers are first, and the key players are Embiid and Horford who are post up nightmares. We need to focus on stopping a player like Horford. I think PJ Tucker and a rim protector like McGee would be enough. Tucker is underrated at holding bigs off the paint and can defend all 5 positions. In the finals it will be the Lakers if AD remains healthy. If AD is hurt we might see Clippers, I doubt Jazz will make it despite their early success but they are a similar matchup like the Clippers. I think we already match up well and even Claxton is probably going to be effective as they tend to be perimeter teams and not paint bullies. PJ Tucker would help us against any team since he can defend AD and bigs plus multiple positions. I think it's a toss up with Drummond, he might help against Embiid but not so much against Clippers. If we can get Tucker and McGee and maybe another perimeter defender like Nwaba we should be good. Iam not sure about Griffin but if he is a buyout low risk why not, he would have to move the ball and set up picks with less post ups though.

You realize Horford isn't on the Sixers anymore right?

[Paradise]

If people don't have a problem with us trying out the likes of Roberson, Shumpert, Tyler Cook, etc., why are they making a big deal over Blake Griffin?

Exactly. He dropped 50 on Embiid not too long ago and dunked on his head.

I just don’t believe he has cared to invest much into Detroit since they got swept by Milwaukee. Seems like he checked out since.

[Whiskey Slick]

If people don't have a problem with us trying out the likes of Roberson, Shumpert, Tyler Cook, etc., why are they making a big deal over Blake Griffin?

Because they're looking at this all wrong in my view.

No disrespect to the detractors and their opinions.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I respect that, BUT, IMO the detractors are looking at this all wrong. Basically because injuries have taken their toll, and it's just human to be demoralized and unmotivated on a losing team like the Pistons, they think that makes him a complete waste of a roster spot.

WRONG.

Guys like Roberson, Cook and even Shumpert, that's a waste of a roster spot.

Blake Griffin, OTOH, even if he's half the player he used to be, or 30 to 40% of the player he used to be, is an UPGRADE to the roster as a whole because he'll be replacing one of the aforementioned, so AT WORSE it's an upgrade to the roster/depth, and AT BEST, if he gets an expected shot of adrenalin coming to the Nets to play with the BIG 3 and Company, also motivated to be playing for a chip, so maybe becomes 50 to 60% of what he used to be, he can then help lessen the minutes load on KD and score enough to keep the other team from making 10-0 runs (as we've seen all to often), and that helps to keep KD and other veterans fresh and healthy for the post season WITHOUT sacrificing leads and games.

In short, it can help us to get that coveted #1 seed without exhausting (or re-injuring) KD et al.

[zimpy27]

If people don't have a problem with us trying out the likes of Roberson, Shumpert, Tyler Cook, etc., why are they making a big deal over Blake Griffin?

Yeah, this would be the best Nets signing this season or should at least be on par with Jeff Green.

Blake could be far better than he looked on the Pistons. You can cut him if he isn't.