Does the Blake Griffin trade affect the Sixers?

By Christopher Kline | Jan 30, 2018

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 04: Blake Griffin #32 of the LA Clippers react to a call during a 127-117 Oklahoma City Thunder win at Staples Center on January 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Blake Griffin is heading to the Detroit Pistons, but does that mean anything for the Philadelphia 76ers?

Once again, the NBA has reminded us that it’s the best league in the world. Just as the Clippers seemed content gunning for the eighth seed out West, Blake Griffin was sent to Detroit. That’s quite the change of scenery for somebody who has spent his entire career in Staples Center.

This is an odd trade. Detroit doesn’t have much of a roster around Griffin and Andre Drummond, while Griffin’s salary could be problematic in the coming years. The Clips also kickstart a rebuild that many of us saw coming, but are doing so in unexpected fashion.

We’re just half a season past L.A. re-signing Griffin with hopes of him retiring a Clipper.

Now, the question is fairly simple: How does this affect the Philadelphia 76ers?

Most of this question revolves around the playoffs. At 24-23, Philly is 2.5 games in front of Detroit for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons have strugged mightily in Reggie Jackson‘s abscence, but Griffin gives them another playmaker and primary scorer who can help run the offense out of the frontcourt.

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The offensive dynamic between Griffin and Drummond is an interesting thought, if nothing else. We’ll see if Stan Van Gundy can place enough spacing around them to make it work, but he has some unique skill sets to work with.

Whether or not this impacts the Sixers boils down to how quickly Griffin adjusts. He’s good enough to help propel Detroit to the playoffs on talent alone, it’s just a matter of him getting comfortable and being put in a position to succeed. Jackson is still a couple weeks from his return, while the Pistons are currently on an eight-game losing streak.

Right now, it looks like the Sixers have a decent cushion for their playoff push. They have a relatively easy schedule moving forward and Joel Embiid should be playing back-to-backs soon.

Philly has also played well as of late, even with their two losses. The loss in Oklahoma City was hard-fought against a more talented team. OKC holds the longest active win streak in the league and Russell Westbrook is returning to MVP form, so you can live with that one.

Milwaukee came on the second night of a back-to-back and Embiid was sidelined. You can’t expect much.

Philadelphia’s improvements this month, as well as Detroit’s regression, should give the Sixers a narrow edge here. It normally takes an offseason for recently traded stars to start clicking in their new homes, and Detroit could very well find themselves in that boat.

Next: 5 reasons for Sixers January success

Nonetheless, the Pistons are still the Sixers’ primary challenger for that eighth spot. Philly visits Detroit on Apr. 4 at 7P.M. ET.