The intrigue within the Los Angeles Clippers continues as Blake Griffin continues to sit out.
While coach and GM Doc Rivers continued to deny the rumors that they are trading Blake Griffin, speculation persisted that it was only temporary. Rivers also admitted that he would be open to trading Griffin if he could get Kevin Durant in exchange.
Yahoo Sports senior scribe Adrian Wojnarowski has taken on another stance in the video, as transcribed by Bleacher Report.
"Even without Durant, this franchise will make hard decisions on its future if it doesn't make a deep playoff run this spring," Woj mentioned in a video. "And league sources tell me that will start at looking hard on the market for deals involving Griffin. The moment of truth for the Clippers, it's coming this spring. And it all begins and ends with Blake Griffin."
But Bleacher Report also sides with Woj that there won't be a deadline deal. Griffin is injured and that would affect his trade value and Rivers would not be able to make adjustments in the playoffs if Griffin is gone.
"It's best if the Clippers stand pat on the Griffin front and see if he can add to their newly minted model upon return," B/R said. "And if it doesn't work out, the status quo won't have changed much by the summer. Griffin will still be treated as a glorified expiring contract, but he'll be healthy, presumably with a few weeks of stellar play under his belt, affording the Clippers leverage they just don't have now."
While it's clear that the Clippers are not shopping Griffin, he is not in the "untouchable" category anymore.
