New Piston in the Motor City

By Tate Harris

Detroit Pistons have made a blockbuster trade to push towards the playoffs and establish Detroit as a free agent destination.

The Pistons traded Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjonavic, a 2018 first round pick and a 2019 second round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Blake Griffin, Willie Reed, Brice Johnson.

Griffin, former 2009 first pick, played seven full seasons with the Clippers and had five all-star appearances, making him the focal point of the trade.

Most players expect a call from the organization when traded, but Griffin did not have the same experience.

“Finding out through Twitter, through other people, is tough when you’ve been with a franchise for so long,” Griffin said to ESPN’s Nick Friedell.

Fans have expressed their excitement for Griffin to help make a push for the playoffs. Detroit is currently in ninth place and needs to be eighth or higher to make the playoffs.

“Hopefully a trade likes this can attract a few more complimentary pieces,” said Alex Kubinec, a sports enthusiast. “They can do it, (get to the playoffs) but they have to dig deep. Hopefully Griffin brings a new spark to this team.”

In a league filled with ‘super teams’ like the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavilers, Detroit local, Pete Duncan, expressed the importance of attracting stars to the city.

“It was a trade that the Pistons needed to make,” said Duncan. “Detroit isn’t a free agent attraction and the team needed star power.”

Griffin made his debut for the Pistons on, Feb. 1. He finished the game with 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Griffin is the first Piston to post this stat line in a franchise debut since Grant Hill in 1994. This helped Detroit beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 104-102.

Games like Griffin’s debut will be crucial to Detroit’s success since there are only 30 games left in the season.

Pistons’ coach, Stan Van Gundy, ended the evening with the Pistons’ Twitter “quote of the night” talking about Griffin’s game.

“I think that just sort of scratched the surface,” said Van Gundy.