It seems the shock is beginning to wear off for Blake Griffin. After receiving news he had been traded to the Detroit Pistons this week, the All-Star forward addressed the unexpected move during an introductory press conference Wednesday in Motor City.
“I want to play for an organization that wants me to play there and clearly this was an organization that wanted me to play here,” he told reporters. “Being stuck in a no-trade clause, it was something that was brought up but it wasn't something that we actually went about obviously, so this is where I want to be, this is a place that wants me and that's the type of organization I want to play for.”
Since being drafted in 2009, the 28-year-old star has spent his entire professional career with the Los Angeles Clippers. Prior to this season, he inked a five-year, $171 million contract with organization, which is why he and many others were surprised to find out he had been traded to Detroit along with Brice Johnson and Willie Reed.
Cavaliers star LeBron James weighed in on the trade on Tuesday, calling it an “unfortunate” situation, but ultimately good for the Clippers franchise.
“He signed a multiyear deal there this summer, so that's unfortunate,” he told Cleveland.com. “But that's the business side of it […] When a player gets traded, it's (the team) 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.”
