What happened: Blake Griffin said the Clippers compared him to Gandhi and called him a Clipper for life during 2017 contract talks. Los Angeles traded him about six months later. Griffin said he declined a handshake with Ballmer on his return, calling the gesture for appearance and questioning how he became cast as the villain.

Why it matters: The split ended Griffin's run as the face of the Clippers' rise into contention. It showed how quickly a franchise centerpiece could be moved after a long-term commitment. The fallout still shapes discussion of loyalty language in NBA contract talks.

What to watch: Expect further reaction from others involved with that 2017-18 Clippers roster.