Clippers officials discuss blockbuster trade that sent Blake Griffin to Pistons

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Hours after the official announcement of a blockbuster trade that sent Blake Griffin to the Pistons, Clippers officials spoke publicly Tuesday about the move that reverberated throughout Lob City.

The deal for the five-time All-Star forward gives Detroit a player who has been the face of the Clippers but whose career has been undercut by injuries.

The Pistons sent forward Tobias Harris, guard Avery Bradley and center Boban Marjanovic to Los Angeles, with the Clippers also receiving draft picks. Detroit also acquired forward Brice Johnson and center Willie Reed.

At a press conference Tuesday morning at Staples Center, Lawrence Frank, the Clippers' executive vice president of basketball operations, said Griffin had "led a huge centerpiece" of the team's "greatest era."

As for why the trade was made, Frank listed three key objectives: "Does it allow us to maintain our competitiveness? Can we increase our ability to add young emerging talent and draft picks? And three, could we increase our flexibility?"

"Our goal is to be very, very good for a very long period of time," Frank added, "and to compete with the NBA elite."

Griffin was not expected to play in Tuesday night's home game against Cleveland, and Stan Van Gundy - Detroit's coach and team president - said his status is uncertain for Thursday night against Memphis.