"Blake Griffin formally agrees to extension with LAC (5 years/95 mill)"

[wdleehi]

Good signing.



Keeps the face of the franchise.


Improves the chance to resign Paul

[celtsfan84]

Wow, that's a lot of money. With CP3, Blake makes the Clippers relevant, so I suppose he's worth it.

Not including players who have been amnestied, only 7 players in the NBA will earn $19 mil or more next year: Kobe, Dirk, Amare, Joe Johnson, Carmelo, Dwight, and Pau Gasol.

Blake will be paid more next year than anyone on the Miami Heat, Kevin Durant, and his teammate Chris Paul.

The HEAT signed their contracts for a lower annual rate so thay could play together.  LeBron and Bosh could've easily received max contracts if they wanted too.  That was by choice.

Chris Paul declined a 3 year, 60 million extension from the Clippers, which is $20 million per year.  That was also by choice.

Kevin Durant's extension was signed before the new CBA, before the "Derrick Rose rule" was added, which increased the max for young players.  That was by circumstance.

LeBron, Wade, Bosh, CP3, and Durant would all have contracts just as big if they decided to or if the rules dictated they could.

So really none of these players are relevant to Blake's contract.

[Lucky17]

So really none of these points are relevant.

These aren't points, these are merely observations.

[celtsfan84]

So really none of these points are relevant.

These aren't points, these are merely observations.

Fixed my post.  Meant to say that none of those players are relevant to Blake, since the circumstances are different.

[jdz101]

Sorry but you fork out 20 million a year for accomplished superstar quality players who are complete in every facet of their game.

He still can't make jumpers consistently.

He still can't decide what to do on the block and doesn't have a consistent post move to go to.

He still can't make free throws.

Granted he has good scoring numbers but that whole team goes out of their way to oop him when it's not necessary.

As I said in the first post I UNDERSTAND THE SIGNING in the clippers situation but it's ridiculous a player at his level got 100 mill straight out.

And by "at his level" you mean at the level of an All-NBA player, a 23 year old who still has room to develop, who produces 20/10's, is one of the most athletic players in the game, and helped CP3 take a worthless franchise to the 2nd Round for the second time in its recent history?

Every NBA player ever has had flaws.  Shaq can't shoot free throws.  Shaq can't make a jumper.  Shaq can't defend the pick and roll.  He still won 4 NBA Titles and made a ton of people rich.

Yeah...but can BLAKE sell tickets, cars and teeshirts or what?

The NBA will get 20million back in tee shirts rights alone.

The NBA is RACKETT ...

Anyone thats doesn't think so is in dream land.

Ummmm, and the Clippers will win more games than they have ever won too.  It is good for the off-court product and the on-court product.

Nitpicking one of the best players in the NBA.  At 23 years old. Wow.

Did you guys forget that he is playing for historically the worst team in the NBA and helped them get to the 2nd Round this year?  What more does he have to do to prove he can win games?  This is ridiculous.

And I don't think you fully understand the term "racket". There is nothing illegal about selling t-shirts and jerseys.

Let's be clear here.

The clippers were only a legit playoff team once Chris Paul joined the fray. They were just as irrelevant as ever with only Blake and Eric Gordon/Bledsoe/Foye etc.

Just as an aside. The new orleans hornets won 50 games in 08/09 with Chris Paul feeding David West and making him a 20/10 guy.

Shaq in his prime bears absolutely zero comparison to Blake. You would take shaq 10/10 times without batting an eyelid.

Here is some clarity for you: my point wasn't that he is better than Shaq or even equal.  My point is that Shaq has similar flaws to the ones you are nitpicking about.  About a 23 year old All-NBA player.  Shaq also isn't the only player in NBA history worth a max contract.  He and Blake can both be worth the max.

It takes more than one good player to move to the 2nd Round of the playoffs.  I love CP3, but he has been out of Round 1 only once in his career without Blake.  And you are discounting the value of David West too. It takes more than one good player to win in the NBA.  CP3 and Blake makes two.

CP3 played 6 years without Blake Griffin.  Escaped Round 1 once.
CP3 played 1 year with Blake Griffin.  Escaped Round 1 once.

There is room for enough credit for 2 players.

I understand your point and I understand the signing from a "butts in seats" perspective aswell. Are you ever going to get out of round 2 with two max deals going to Paul and Griffin though?

That's the sticking point for me.

Paul at his position is the best (if not top 2 or 3) so he warrants a max deal.

Will Blake ever reach Paul's level of excellence at his position? I dunno.

[wdleehi]

I understand your point and I understand the signing from a "butts in seats" perspective aswell. Are you ever going to get out of round 2 with two max deals going to Paul and Griffin though?

That's the sticking point for me.

Paul at his position is the best (if not top 2 or 3) so he warrants a max deal.

Will Blake ever reach Paul's level of excellence at his position? I dunno.

Yes, they will be able to get out of the 2nd round. 


They need to improve the players around them.  They need Griffin to grow a little more as a player. 

[celtsfan84]

I understand your point and I understand the signing from a "butts in seats" perspective aswell. Are you ever going to get out of round 2 with two max deals going to Paul and Griffin though?

That's the sticking point for me.

Paul at his position is the best (if not top 2 or 3) so he warrants a max deal.

Will Blake ever reach Paul's level of excellence at his position? I dunno.

Yes, they will be able to get out of the 2nd round. 


They need to improve the players around them.  They need Griffin to grow a little more as a player. 

Exactly.  He's 23 years old and already an All-NBA player.  His game is developing rapidly.

And if you are the Clippers, isn't merely getting to Round 2 a big enough deal for a max contract anyway?  You've only been out one other time in your team's history.

[ScottHow]

He's is defiantly worth the max, but he's still a midrange jumper or post game away from being elite.

[celtsfan84]

He's is defiantly worth the max, but he's still a midrange jumper or post game away from being elite.

I concur.

[SCeltic34]

He's is defiantly worth the max, but he's still a midrange jumper or post game away from being elite.

For all his athleticism, he is a subpar defender and shotblocker as well. 

I don't see the Clippers being true championship contender until they cinch up their defense.  Getting a better coach would be a start.

[Snakehead]

He's is defiantly worth the max, but he's still a midrange jumper or post game away from being elite.

I concur.

He's worth the max because that's what you have to pay him to keep him I guess.

He's not only a jumper and post game away from elite, but a defensive game.  So he has serious flaws.  The thing is he has tiny arms, I don't think he will ever be a shot blocker so I'm not sure there is much hope on that front.

I liked him coming in rookie year but he lost me.  Not a fan of his attitude and complaining this year.

By the way I don't think he deserved All-NBA 2nd team at all.... SPONSORED BY KIA though so maybe he did...  

[celtsfan84]

He's is defiantly worth the max, but he's still a midrange jumper or post game away from being elite.

I concur.

He's worth the max because that's what you have to pay him to keep him I guess.

He's not only a jumper and post game away from elite, but a defensive game.  So he has serious flaws.  The thing is he has tiny arms, I don't think he will ever be a shot blocker so I'm not sure there is much hope on that front.

I liked him coming in rookie year but he lost me.  Not a fan of his attitude and complaining this year.

By the way I don't think he deserved All-NBA 2nd team at all.... SPONSORED BY KIA though so maybe he did... 

Even still, he is at worst still one of the top 10 forwards in all of basketball at 23 years old on a moribund franchise.

[Snakehead]

He's is defiantly worth the max, but he's still a midrange jumper or post game away from being elite.

I concur.

He's worth the max because that's what you have to pay him to keep him I guess.

He's not only a jumper and post game away from elite, but a defensive game.  So he has serious flaws.  The thing is he has tiny arms, I don't think he will ever be a shot blocker so I'm not sure there is much hope on that front.

I liked him coming in rookie year but he lost me.  Not a fan of his attitude and complaining this year.

By the way I don't think he deserved All-NBA 2nd team at all.... SPONSORED BY KIA though so maybe he did...  

Even still, he is at worst still one of the top 10 forwards in all of basketball at 23 years old on a moribund franchise.

I agree, he's one of the top PFs and it makes sense to keep him by himself and also in an effort to retain Paul. I personally think he may not ever get much better though.

[Kwhit10]

95 million for endless youtube highlights!

[SHAQATTACK]

Man and think of all the $ Blake is raking in on the countless commericals he does.... LOVE IT..!!