Blake Griffin Trade Overview
Blake Griffin was traded from the Detroit Pistons to the Brooklyn Nets on June 22, 2018, in a three-team deal that also involved the Philadelphia 76ers. The trade sent Griffin, a six-time NBA All-Star, to the Nets in exchange for a protected 2020 first-round draft pick and a 2022 second-round pick. Griffin was later waived by the Nets without playing a game for the team. The transaction is widely cited as one of the most notable NBA trades of the 2018 offseason, reflecting the Pistons' rebuild strategy under general manager Ed Stefanski and the Nets' pursuit of cap flexibility. The move also highlighted the shifting asset value of veteran star players in the NBA salary cap era. More context on NBA salary structures and trade mechanics can be found on the official NBA salary cap rules page at NBA.com Salary Cap Rules.
The trade was finalized after months of reported discussions between the Pistons, Nets, and 76ers, with multiple draft picks and cash considerations attached. Griffin's contract at the time was worth approximately $171 million over five years, signed in 2012 as the first overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers. The Detroit Pistons acquired the package in a prior trade with the Clippers in January 2018, sending Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanović, and draft picks to Los Angeles. The Nets then moved Griffin to clear roster space and pursue younger, cheaper talent. The 76ers received Joel Embiid, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft, in the three-team deal. The financial terms of the trade, including guaranteed salary and luxury tax implications, are detailed in the collective bargaining agreement resources at NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Career Impact and Performance
Post-Trade Performance
After the trade, Blake Griffin never played a regular-season game for the Brooklyn Nets. He was waived on July 6, 2018, and later signed a one-year, $4.3 million contract with the Detroit Pistons as a free agent in July 2018. Griffin played 57 games for the Pistons in the 2018-19 season, averaging 24.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. He missed the entire 2019-20 season due to a torn quad tendon and was traded to the Brooklyn Nets again in a sign-and-trade in November 2020. Griffin later joined the Denver Nuggets in 2021, the Boston Celtics in 2022, and the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023, but his role diminished significantly. His career averages dropped to 19.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game over 11 NBA seasons, according to Basketball Reference at Basketball-Reference Blake Griffin.
Contract and Financial Details
Blake Griffin's contract history includes a five-year, $171 million extension with the Clippers signed in 2012, a one-year, $4.3 million deal with the Pistons in 2018, and a one-year, $5 million contract with the Nets in 2020. The 2018 trade to the Nets included a trade kicker and guaranteed salary protection for Detroit. Griffin's later contracts with the Nuggets, Celtics, and Bucks were veteran minimum deals, reflecting his reduced role. The financial