The NBA Trade Deadline is only a few days away, and the rumor mill is churning at full speed. One of the biggest names reportedly on the block is Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin. There have been a litany of Blake Griffin trade rumors in the past few days, although it remains to be seen if any of those have any merit.
Part of the reason Griffin might be dealt stems from his punching of a team equipment manager earlier this year. Griffin ended up with a broken hand that will cost him over a month. He was suspended for the incident as well. If Griffin is traded, there are several destinations that make sense. And while there's a very good chance that the Clippers don't get an offer good enough to part with Griffin, every team listed has been linked to Griffin in some form. With that in mind, here are four teams that could trade for Blake Griffin.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are reportedly ready to make some sizable moves, and that could result in Griffin making his way East. Frank Isola reports the Hawks can't be ruled out of the Griffin sweepstakes and they certainly have the pieces. A deal centered around moving Griffin for Paul Millsap actually makes perfect sense, as Millsap could be a better fit for the Clippers. For more on the Hawks, download the Chat Sports Android and iPhone app.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics have plenty of assets to spare, which make them a popular name every time a star is available. That's the case with Griffin, with The Boston Herald reporting the Celtics reached out about Griffin.
"A Western source confirmed the Celtics were one of a number of teams calling the Clippers to see if Blake Griffin is, indeed, on the menu," Steve Bulpett reports for the Herald. "But the result of those inquiries has thus far been that, while the Clips are listening, they have no real intention of moving the star forward."
The Celtics have more than enough pieces to make a move for Griffin, making them a real contender if Los Angeles decides it wants to move Griffin.
Denver Nuggets
Denver may seem like an odd landing spot for Griffin, but ESPN's Chris Broussard reports the Clippers offered Griffin to the Nuggets along with Lance Stephenson for Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried, Will Barton and Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets said no.
"Denver turned it down because Blake will be a free agent after next season and (the Nuggets) felt like he may leave," Broussard said. "Plus, they like some of those young kids, and Jokic they really love."
Broussard said head coach Doc Rivers denied offering the deal, but that's to be expected. It sounds like the Nuggets won't end up making a deal, but it is at least a possibility. For more on the Nuggets, download the Chat Sports Android and iPhone app.
Philadelphia 76ers
This report stems from Sam Amico, who works for Fox Sports Ohio. Amico reports that the 76ers had talks with the Clippers about Griffin, which seems like a departure from the usual operating plan on Sam Hinkie. Amico doesn't mention how far those talks went, or what the 76ers would have had to give up to get Griffin. It likely would have been at least one of their young big men. Of the four teams on this list, this seems like the least likely destination for Griffin.