The Los Angeles Clippers can still offer All-Star forward Blake Griffin more money than any other team. But they will now have to compete with those interested squads in free agency.
According to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Griffin has opted out of his contract and will become a free agent next month.
Sources: Clippers All-Star forward Blake Griffin has opted out of his contract to become a free agent.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 23, 2017
Considering Griffin was set to make $21.4 million next season, this can’t be looked at as that much of a surprise. Though, the Clippers themselves were holding out hope that he might opt in.
A five-time All-Star, Griffin averaged 21.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 2016-17 before going down with a season-ending injury three games into the Clippers’ first-round matchup against the Utah Jazz.
The Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics are among the teams expected to make big-time plays for Griffin in free agency. We can also expect a potential return to Southern California.