When Blake Griffin signed a five-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers last summer he likely expected that he would at lease remain with the team through the first few years of the contract. Instead, Griffin was shipped out to Detroit in a trade that has signaled that the Clippers intend on starting a rebuilding project.
Tuesday, LeBron James was asked to share his opinion on the trade and the first thought on the Cavaliers star's mind was how there's a double standard when it comes to loyalty in the NBA.
“When a player gets traded, it’s they was doing what’s best for the franchise. But when a player decides to leave, it’s, ‘He’s not loyal. He’s a snake. He’s not committed.’ It’s just, that’s the narrative of how it goes. So I’m definitely (aware). I know that firsthand.” - via USA Today
Despite LeBron's opinion on how loyalty is perceived from both sides, he also expressed how although Griffin had spent nine years with the Clippers and called Los Angeles home, the NBA is a business, and getting traded is just part of that business.
“He spent his last nine years there. He signed a multi-year deal there this summer, so that’s unfortunate. But that’s the business side of it. It’s both sides. It works both sides, though. It’s the business.” - via Cleveland.com
With the Clippers trading Griffin and reportedly still looking to trade DeAndre Jordan and the newly acquired Avery Bradley, it definitely seems as if the franchise is looking to start a rebuild. However, it was reported that the Clippers real motive behind dumping their current star players has to do with them attempting to sign LeBron James this summer when he enters free agency.
People are finding that a little hard to believe, though...for obvious reasons.
