Feb. 05--REPORTING FROM ORLANDO, Fla. -- Multiple teams have contacted the Clippers about acquiring Blake Griffin after he punched a team assistant equipment manager, said a person close to the situation not authorized to discuss it publicly, but the team has no active interest in trading its five-time All-Star power forward.
The Clippers have fielded calls involving various trade proposals but remain reluctant to part with a cornerstone of their franchise and a player who, at age 26, was having possibly his best season before he was sidelined by a quadriceps injury the day after Christmas and subsequently a broken hand sustained in a scuffle with assistant equipment manager Matias Testi.
Griffin repeatedly punched Testi on Jan. 23 at a restaurant in Toronto, leaving Testi with a swollen face and Griffin with a broken right hand, which is supposed to sideline him until March.
Clippers Coach Doc Rivers has said Griffin and Testi would both be welcomed back to the team, with Griffin expected to rejoin the Clippers after the NBA announces a punishment stemming from the altercation. Griffin and Testi are longtime friends who got into a scuffle over teasing that went too far for Griffin's liking.
Neither Griffin nor Testi accompanied the Clippers on their five-game trip that starts Friday night against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center.
Griffin, who is under contract through the 2016-17 season, was averaging 23.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists while shooting 50.8% before being sidelined by a partially torn left quadriceps tendon.
ben.bolch@latimes.com
Twitter: @latbbolch
