Clippers Trade Blake Griffin And His $171 Million Contract

LOS ANGELES, CA — Seven months after signing a $171 million contract, Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin was traded to the Detroit Pistons Monday.

The Clippers will receive forward Tobias Harris, guard Avery Bradley, center Boban Marjanovic, a 2018 protected first-round draft choice and a 2019 second-round pick in exchange for Griffin, center Willie Reed and forward Brice Johnson.

"This was a very difficult decision, but we ultimately felt it was appropriate for the franchise," Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank said.

Griffith's only tweet of the day was a clip of Will Smith from the 1990-96 NBC comedy "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" expressing surprise.

The Clippers chose Griffin with the first pick in the 2009 NBA draft. He missed the 2009-10 season because of a knee injury suffered in the team's final preseason game. Griffin was the NBA's Rookie of the Year for the 2010-11 season, was selected for five NBA All-Star games and is second in franchise history in scoring with 10,863 points.

"Blake Griffin had a tremendous impact on this organization and his legacy within the community of Los Angeles will be permanent," Clippers owner Steve Ballmer said.

Harris and Bradley were both starters with the Pistons. Harris averaged 18.1 points with Detroit this season and Bradley 15 points. Bradley was a 2016 NBA All-Defensive Team first-team and a 2013 second-team selection.

The trade was as much a surprise to Griffin as it was to anyone if his Twitter account is any indication:

City News Service; Photo: Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) goes to the basket over New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)