Tom Gores 'Not Concerned' Blake Griffin Will Ask for Trade Like Anthony Davis

Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores told Rod Beard of the Detroit News that he isn't worried about superstar forward Blake Griffin requesting a trade like New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis, who did so Monday.

"I know he's committed to Detroit, to me and to us," Gores said Tuesday. "If you see him competing, it's because he wants to win and he believes in this. He's only a half-season into this—so I'm not concerned at all."   

Griffin was averaging 26.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game entering Tuesday, but the 21-28 Pistons are on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture at the moment.

Detroit doesn't look like it will contend any time soon. Barring major lottery luck, the Pistons will likely receive a pick in the high teens, which will keep them out of contention for Duke forward Zion Williamson.

The Pistons are a poor shooting team (33.2 percent from three, 43.3 percent from the field) whose good-but-not-great defense (11th in defensive efficiency) isn't enough for them to contend given their offensive woes.

If Griffin is looking for a shot at a ring, Detroit doesn't seem to be the place for it. He's signed through at least 2021 (he has a player option he can decline for 2021-22) on a five-year, $171.2 million deal.

He could conceivably leave Detroit after the 2020-21 season, so the Pistons may look to make a deal down the road to avoid potentially losing their star for nothing in free agency.

But for now, Detroit still has an outside shot at a playoff berth. After losing to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, the Pistons are currently three games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference.