Blake Griffin Will Reportedly Sign Contract Extension with L.A. Clippers

Blake Griffin will reportedly sign a contract extension with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to ESPN Los Angeles, which will help the team build on the improvements they made last season which included their first playoff series win since 2006.

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Griffin can't officially sign the extension until July 11, but negotiations between the team and his representatives are not expected to turn into a drawn-out process, sources said, as no player coming off a rookie-scale contract who is eligible and was offered the maximum contract extension has passed on it.

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ESPN Los Angeles also explained some of the financial details of a possible extension.

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Griffin could earn as much as $95 million over the course of the five-year extension if he is voted an All-Star starter again or named to a second All-NBA team next season under the so-called "Derrick Rose Rule" in the new collective bargaining agreement.

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Last year, the Clippers finished 40-26 with a win percentage of .606, which was the highest winning percentage in team history and the team's best since the 2005-06 season.

The Clippers can't afford to let Griffin go, for on- and off-the-court reasons. He is a great player even though he still hasn't even developed his talents to their maximum potential. There is so much room for improvement in his game.

Since he makes the Clippers one of the most exciting teams in the NBA to watch, Griffin helps the them sell tickets and puts the franchise in the national spotlight with his almost nightly appearances in SportsCenter's "Top 10 Plays." Being in Los Angeles also gives Griffin the opportunity for lots of endorsement deals.

Re-signing with the Clippers is a no-brainer for basketball and financial reasons. Griffin has a chance to win a championship with the Clippers and help bring the franchise to the summit of pro basketball for the first time, while making a lot of money in the process.

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