The NBA trade rumors will start at the slightest provocation and no one is an exception, not even Blake Griffin.
Despite being the face of the franchise, the rumor mill keeps churning out more talk linking Griffin to different teams. Then, there will be the categorical denial, which team President and head coach Doc Rivers gave to the LA Times in Ben Bolch's report.
"Multiple teams have contacted the Clippers about acquiring Blake Griffin after he punched a team assistant equipment manager, said a person close to the situation not authorized to discuss it publicly, but the team has no active interest in trading its five-time All-Star power forward," Bolch wrote. "Clippers Coach Doc Rivers has said Griffin and Testi would both be welcomed back to the team, with Griffin expected to rejoin the Clippers after the NBA announces a punishment stemming from the altercation."
That return may be a long time coming since Griffin allegedly had a second procedure done to his hand. However, ESPN reports that the timetable is unchanged.
"Clippers forward Blake Griffin underwent a second procedure this week on his broke right hand, sources told ESPN," the report stated. "The procedure was a part of the original surgery last week, so sources said the 4-6 week timeframe for his return remains unchanged."
Rumors that Rivers' former team, the Boston Celtics, has called to make an offer for Griffin have not been substantiated but there's a big possibilitiy that they were one of the "multiple teams."
The Clippers continue to win without Griffin which is one of the reasons why there was a notion that he was expendable, but Rivers refuted it.
