Blake Griffin re-signs with Los Angeles Clippers; Gets a five year contract extension – NBA News
Los Angeles Clippers star forward Blake Griffin has agreed to a five year contract extension with his team, a source has told ESPNLosAngeles.com.
The extension was expected as Griffin had informed team officials last month that he was willing to sign an extension with the basketball club.
The new deal could have Griffin earning as much as $95 million over the course of his contract, if he is voted an All Star Starter again or to the All NBA second team next season, in a new role in the CBA known as the “Derrick
Rose Rule”. The rule allows a player who is finishing his rookie contract to get 30% of a team’s salary cap rather than 25%, if he is twice voted as an All Star starter, twice been voted to an All NBA team or wins the MVP trophy.
Rookies are only allowed contract extensions for four years in the new CBA, but a team can offer a five year contract extension to any one of its rookies. That rookie was always going to be Griffin, as he has had a phenomenal year
with the Clippers.
The Clippers were ever ready to re-sign Griffin to the team as he is one of their biggest players. He was picked up by the Clippers as the number 1 pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. He missed the whole of the 2009-2010 NBA season with
a knee injury and hence made his debut in the NBA in the 2010-2011 season and won the rookie of the year trophy.
Ever since they drafted Griffin, the Clippers have been attempting to surround Griffin with players who are capable of taking the Clippers into the playoffs and possibly, to the NBA Finals. They received a huge boost last season
when they traded Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets and also landed Chauncey Billups.
The Clippers finished 5th in the Western Conference last season and made it to the 2nd round of the NBA playoffs - the best playoff performance in franchise history.
This season, they look to an even better finish after adding Jamal Crawford and Lamar Odom in the line up.
"I feel good about them [the Clippers]. Like I've said, everything's been positive. Everything's been moving forward. It's been a good experience. I'm not a believer in breaking up something that's working,” said Griffin while
talking to ESPNLosAngeles.com in Las Vegas.
Chris Paul, on the other hand, refused a three year contract extension worth $60 million, and decided to wait till the end of next season when he will become a free agent and be able to sign a five year $108 million deal.
"I'll wait until next summer to decide everything," Paul recently said while talking to ESPNLosAngeles.com.
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