Reporter denies he ever said Boston Celtics big man was retiring

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Herring denied that he had reported that Boston Celtics big man Blake Griffin was on the verge of retiring on Twitter by quote tweeting a parody news aggregation and telling them “FOH” after they claimed Herring reported such news.

“FOH,” Herring said of the allegation he reported that. “I’m on a beach somewhere; I didn’t report that.”

With James Harden and Damian Lillard’s trade situations still fluid — since the latter’s top destination, the Miami Heat, may not have the assets to land him and the former is currently telling anyone who will listen that he won’t play for the Philadelphia 76ers — the league is very much in a transaction standstill. Griffin figures to be one of the very last dominoes to fall, with his role now more of a locker-room presence than a big-time producer on the floor.

Boston Celtics free agent suggested for historical rival

Griffin cut his teeth with the Los Angeles Clippers through the first nine years of his NBA career but was traded unexpectedly and likely has unresolved issues with Steve Balmer’s franchise. A return to Tinseltown is apparently in the cards, but not the Clippers — rather, the Los Angeles Lakers were floated as an option with one executive telling NBA Analysis Network’s Evan Massey that the purple and gold are the best fit.

“An NBA executive told Evan Massey of NBA Analysis Network that the Los Angeles Lakers should sign Blake Griffin, who is an unrestricted free agent,” Massey wrote. “‘Blake Griffin is still out there and I think his best fit is the Lakers,’ the NBA exec said. ‘He would be a perfect depth addition for L.A.'”

Jumping to the Lakers would not be the most popular move for the former NBA Slam Dunk champion around these parts, but a veteran like Griffin has done enough in this league to dictate where he finishes what started out as a Hall of Fame-caliber career.