If Griffin's Clippers career is over, where could he end up?

Even before the Los Angeles Clippers announced Blake Griffin was finished for the playoffs for the second straight year Saturday, the death knell for Lob City as we know it sounded on social media.

Speculation that this Clippers' core will be broken up goes back at least three seasons. L.A. is not out of these playoffs yet by any stretch, but the story the team's woven each spring up until now is near-Shakespearean. Only the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs have won more NBA regular-season games since 2012, but, partly due to untimely injuries, the Clippers haven't gotten past the second round of the playoffs.

Related: A recent history of the Clippers curse after Griffin's injury

Now, with both Griffin and Chris Paul looking at unrestricted free agency this summer, the breakup could be imminent.

Both have to opt out of their contracts first, which Paul assuredly will given that only the Clippers can offer him a "supermax" designated player extension. Griffin may think twice about it after his latest injury, but that would actually make it easier for the team to trade him.

The 28-year-old is in line for a nice raise, though, so Griffin will likely opt out too. That means he could ink a deal with another team and leave the Clippers with no value in return - or he could approve a sign-and-trade, a CBA tool that hasn't been used with a major NBA superstar in a while.

So: Where to?

New York Knicks

There is some logic, however flawed, in the idea of a Griffin-for-Carmelo Anthony trade, mostly because Anthony's believed to consider the Clippers one of the few teams he'd accept a deal to.

If Griffin was amenable to a sign-and-trade and Melo waived his no-trade clause to join close friend Paul in L.A., Phil Jackson would likely pass out from his good fortune strictly from a talent perspective. Rumors flew earlier this season that he was prepared to give away Anthony for Clipper bench parts.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The biggest reason to mention the Thunder in this conversation is the fact Griffin is an OKC native who played college ball for the nearby Sooners. From a pure basketball perspective, pairing him with Russell Westbrook could be spectacular, if not ridiculous.

While it may sound right positionally, though, it's risky to put two ball-dominant, whirling dervish highlight reels on the same team. The other players on the floor would essentially be rendered NBA-caliber movie extras. That brings up another issue: Griffin has dabbled in Hollywood, and has stated a preference for remaining ensconced in the L.A. lifestyle.

While he may no longer be in the Clippers' plans, Griffin does have control over where he goes.

Related: Griffin brushes off talk of going to Thunder in free agency

Los Angeles Lakers

The L.A. thing, of course, presents the Lakers as a possibility. This scenario almost certainly would not come via a sign-and-trade, however. The Lakers likely have zero interest in trading any of their blue-chip talent or veteran salary fill - especially not to their Staples Center rival - for a player they could sign in free agency.

The question here is really whether the Lakers would want to lock up a player like Griffin now, and whether Griffin wants to join a young team at least a few years away from playoff contention.

Indiana Pacers

If the Clippers really wanted to screw with the Lakers, they could try to convince Griffin to approve a sign-and-trade to the Pacers for Paul George. Multiple reports suggest the purple and gold have their eventual sights set on the L.A. County native. The Clippers could at least take care of any desire he has to play at home - and he'd be a perfect wing addition alongside Paul and DeAndre Jordan.

The problem: If Griffin would think twice about going to his hometown Thunder, then it's safe to say that Indianapolis could be a tough sell as well.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)