DETROIT (AP) – The Detroit Pistons plan to keep Blake Griffin out of the line-up while he and the organization work out a decision about his future, a sign that the star striker’s days with the team may be numbered.
“After extensive discussions with Blake’s representatives, it was decided to work with the team that maximized the interests of both parties to find a solution for its future,” said Troy Weaver, general manager of Pistons, in a statement on Monday of all efforts Blake is in Detroit and its career will endeavor to produce a positive outcome for all concerned. “
Griffin, who will turn 32 next month, came to a store in Detroit in the 2017/18 season, but the Pistons only made one post-season appearance with him and spent much of last year serious about their roster revise. Detroit is 8-19 this season, and Griffin has already missed seven games.
If traded or departing on a buyout it could give the popular veteran an opportunity to play more meaningful games than Detroit can currently offer.
“I am grateful to the Pistons for understanding what I want to achieve in my career and for working together on the best way forward,” said Griffin.
Griffin managed to stay mostly healthy during a great 2018-19 season, but even then, he missed two of the four games when Detroit was defeated in the first round of the playoffs. He eventually had knee surgery and only played 18 games last season.
Griffin was one of the few holdovers on the roster when this season started, and the Pistons recently traded one of them when they sent Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks. Rookies Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart did enough to give fans cause for optimism, and Jerami Grant averages 23 points per game in his first season after moving to Detroit from Denver.
With so many new faces, Griffin was at times an afterthought averaging 12.3 points – a career dip.
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