How will the Blake Griffin trade impact the Celtics and their stash of draft picks?

The Clippers shocked much of the NBA world on Monday when they elected to trade away superstar forward Blake Griffin (who they had just signed to a five-year max extension in July) to the Detroit Pistons in a blockbuster deal. Los Angeles also sent Brice Johnson and Willie Reed with Griffin to the Motor City in exchange for Avery Bradley, Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic, a top-4 protected 2018 first round pick and a 2019 second round pick.

How exactly could this deadline impact the Celtics, both at the trade deadline and the future draft compensation owed from the Clippers? Let’s take a look at the variables involved to find some answers.

Q: What draft pick do the Clippers still owe the Celtics?

A: It’s a 2019 lottery protected first round pick. The Celtics only receive it if it falls within 15-30 slots. Otherwise, it rolls over to 2020 with the same protections. If the Clippers miss the playoffs for both of those seasons, it turns into a 2022 second round pick.

Q: So the Clippers trading Blake Griffin isn’t good news for the C’s odds of getting a first round pick, right?


A: On the surface, that would appear to be the case. However, a closer investigation of the transaction and the Clippers’ cap sheet says it may actually be a good thing for the Celtics in the long run. Griffin is clearly the most talented player moved in the deal, but his contract could become a disaster long-term given his injury history. The Clippers got back some legitimate talent in the deal with Bradley and Harris (under contract through next season). While the Clippers could certainly take a sharp turn down into the lottery this year and next year (depending on what they do at the trade deadline), they now have a clear cap sheet for the summer of 2019. That could give them a lot of flexibility to chase a star or two looking to team up in a premier destination like LA.

Q: What about for now, though? Will the Clippers be tanking this year and become big sellers at the trade deadline?

A: It depends who you talk to, I guess. Doc Rivers is no longer in charge of personnel moves, but he told reporters in LA at practice today that this team isn’t giving up as they stand a half-game out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

"We make this trade and then everyone thinks we're just trading everybody away. That's not true," Rivers said.

However, Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank sang a bit of a different tune when asked about the prospect of more trades ahead of the Feb. 8 deadline.

"You never know," Frank said. "If you were to ask me the question a week ago whether we were going to trade Blake Griffin, the answer would have probably been different than why we're standing here today. You never know how it's going to unfold with the trade deadline looming. There will be a lot of activity, so we'll see how it plays out."

Q: So could more players be available for the Celtics to make a run at as a potential rental?

A: DeAndre Jordan has reportedly been available for awhile, but the Celtics aren’t going to be able to land him due to his massive salary ($22.6 million). They don’t have the salaries needed to match it in a deal. However, Lou Williams is an intriguing name that has led the Clippers’ turnaround for the past couple months. I’m not sure the Celtics would be willing to give up much of anything for him (his 6-foot-2 frame makes it hard to find a clear space for him in the lineup next to Marcus Smart or Terry Rozier off the bench). Unless there’s additional dealing down by Boston, I’d consider him a long shot as a target.

Q: What about Avery Bradley? Could he be moved?

A: Yes, but not to Boston. Due to a rule in the collective bargaining agreement implemented a few years ago, a player cannot be traded back to their original team for one year following the  trade. The Clippers could opt to keep Bradley long-term (he’ll be a free agent this summer) or move him elsewhere.

Q: Any final takeaways?

A: For now, the value of that 2019 Clippers pick in a potential trade for Boston just got a bit lower due to the very real possibility that Los Angeles is planning on hitting the reset button. If that’s the case, it’s a long shot the Celtics will be able to sell that as a potential first round pick in 2019 or 2020. We'll get a more complete answer on this front in the next week though. If Jordan, Bradley and/or Williams get dealt, it could be a rough couple of years in LA.