Six-time NBA All-Star Blake Griffin agreed to terminate his contract with the Detroit Pistons and will become an unrestricted free agent, sources told ESPN.
The Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers are expected to be among the teams Griffin will consider for his next stop, sources told ESPN.
Griffin, 31, would make a decision on his next quintet after having talks with interested teams, sources said.
Finding a change for Griffin, who owed the remaining $ 36.6 million this season and $ 39 million in 2021-2022 before the buoyout, was an insurmountable challenge for the Pistons. Detroit finalized a reduction in its remaining salary to get free agency in negotiations with Griffin agent Sam Sports Goldfeder as the parties mutually agreed that it would leave the active list on February 15 pending of an exchange or buyout.
Detroit has entered a complete rebuild under freshman general manager Troy Weaver and the opportunity to provide minutes to the franchise’s youngest players is a priority for the Pistons.
Injuries have drastically altered Griffin’s game, eliminating the high-flying attacks that marked his career as an All-Star. He is averaging 12.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists for Detroit this season.
Griffin was traded after less than a season on his five-year, $ 171 million max contract with the LA Clippers, arriving in Detroit in late January 2018.