The Detroit Pistons have shaken up their struggling NBA roster in dramatic fashion, acquiring star forward Blake Griffin in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Detroit sent forward Tobias Harris, guard Avery Bradley and centre Boban Marjanovic to LA, with the Clippers also receiving draft picks. Detroit also acquired forward Brice Johnson and centre Willie Reed in the deal.
"We are serious about winning, and this is a major move to improve our team," Pistons owner Tom Gores said in a statement. "Blake Griffin is one of the NBA's elite players, and when you get an opportunity to add that kind of talent, you take it."
Griffin is averaging 22.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 33 games this season, but the Clippers have been plagued by injuries and are ninth in the Western Conference standings.
Detroit are scuffling as well. The Pistons have lost eight straight heading into Tuesday night's game against Cleveland.
The 28-year-old Griffin has been the face of the Clippers, and last July, he agreed to a $US171 million ($A239 million), five-year deal, ending a brief flirtation with free agency. He told his teammates, coach Doc Rivers and owner Steve Ballmer, "I want my legacy to be a Clipper."
The deal didn't include a no-trade clause.
The addition of Griffin gives Detroit's frontcourt another standout alongside Andre Drummond, but it also represents a clear change in course from the roster the Pistons had assembled.
Detroit acquired Bradley in a trade with Boston last off-season, but he's in the final season of his contract. Harris has been impressive for the Pistons this season, shooting a career-best 41 per cent from three-point range.
For the Clippers, moving Griffin continues a makeover of a franchise that has never made it past the second round of the playoffs.
The Clippers traded All-Star point guard Chris Paul to Houston last summer. He had been credited with bringing respectability to the team that was once the laughing stock of the league. Without Paul, Los Angeles won their first four games to open the season, and then lost nine of its next 11.
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