By Ramona Shelburne Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin has let team officials know that he intends to sign a five-year contract extension this month, sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPNLosAngeles.com on Saturday. 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. 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. Under another clause in the new CBA, rookies may extend their contracts by four years. However, a team may designate one player to sign a five-year extension. Griffin was always going to be the Clippers' designated player, according to sources within the organization. However, had Eric Gordon not been traded to the New Orleans Hornets last December as part of the Chris Paul trade, it might have created a problem. With Griffin the only player on the Clippers' roster in line for such an extension, and his place in the league firmly established -- he was the rookie of the year in 2011, as well as a two-time All-Star -- he will receive the designation. Griffin's extension would begin with the 2013-14 season. He would be able to opt-out of the final season of the contract, but is otherwise committed to the franchise through 2018. http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/...in-intends-sign-extension-los-angles-clippers
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Dwight Howard dream dies............................
