The Boston Celtics are reportedly in talks with the Los Angeles Clippers on a potential deal centered on Blake Griffin before Thursday's trade deadline.

CBS Sports, citing ESPN's Zach Lowe, reported that the Celtics have "talked intermittently" with the Clippers about the availability of the five-time All-Star power forward, offering a trade package that includes Jae Crowder and either Avery Bradley or Marcus Smart plus multiple future draft picks.

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However, the report noted that a deal is "extremely unlikely" as Clippers coach Doc Rivers is keen on keeping his Big Three of Griffin, Chris Paul, and DeAndre Jordan intact for the next season.

Griffin, 27, is in the fourth year of his five-year, $94.5 million contract with the Clippers and could choose to become an unrestricted free agent in the coming offseason because of an early-termination clause in his deal. Some analysts say that it is more likely to happen and so the Clips could be thinking about trading Griffin now than lose him for nothing should he choose to join a different team this summer.

Getting Griffin would be franchise-changing for Boston and will instantly make them a title-contender with their own Big Three of Griffin, Isaiah Thomas, and Al Horford. Griffin is an ideal versatile big for head coach Brad Stevens' system and will also improve the Celtics' defensive rebounding, something that the team needs at the moment.

Griffin is averaging 21.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.1 steals in 33.3 minutes per game in 36 games so far this season. He had just returned from a 20-game absence after undergoing minor knee surgery last December.

Meanwhile, as for the Clippers, any deal involving Griffin, Paul, and Jordan would mean the "end of Lob City" era in Los Angeles as the team will end up going on a rebuild as expected. Aside from Griffin, the Celtics are also currently linked to Chicago Bulls small forward Jimmy Butler and Indiana Pacers wingman Paul George, as per Oregon Live.

TagsNBA Trade Rumors, NBA Trade Rumors 2017, blake griffin, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics