Doc Rivers said he's been assured Blake Griffin is regretful over an off court incident in which he punched a Los Angeles Clippers' employee and broke his hand.

"He feels awful about it, and he's let everyone know that," Rivers said. "That's all you can do. You have to forgive people at some point. I believe that. We built Richard Nixon a library. I mean, my goodness. You forgive people. You really do. You kind of move on, and you build it back."

Rivers said the Clippers will defer to the league on any punishment meted out to Griffin.

"Both parties will get together," Rivers said. "Usually the league leads on that stuff."

If the Los Angeles Clippers have to break up their Big 3, Doc Rivers reportedly would prefer to trade away Blake Griffin.

Griffin is entering the later stages of his prime and his game may not age well unless he eventually develops a three-pointer.

Griffin would also give the Clippers the strongest return.

The Clippers are 22-9 without Griffin over the past two seasons and 13-3 since he's been out this season.

DeAndre Jordan and Los Angeles Clippers assistant athletic trainer Joe Resendez were interviewed by the NBA in its investigation of Blake Griffin punching Matias Testi.

Jordan and Resendez were at dinner with Griffin and Matias Testi in Toronto when teasing became violent and Griffin punched Testi twice.

"Those guys are really close friends of mine, like brothers to me," Jordan said of Griffin and Testi, according to the newspaper.

Griffin broke his hand in the incident and will miss 4-6 weeks.

Doc Rivers said Griffin and Testi will be welcomed back to the team, with Griffin possibly attending Friday's game in Los Angeles against the Lakers.

Blake Griffin is out for four to six weeks with a broken hand from an incident involving a Los Angeles Clippers' equipment manager.

Griffin released the following statement:

"A situation among friends escalated and I regret the way I handled myself towards someone I care about. I want to apologize to the Clippers' organization, my teammates and the fans for creating a distraction. I am working with the team on a resolution and getting back in the game as soon as possible."

J.J. Redick will host a weekly podcast on Adrian Wojnarowski's Vertical Network on Yahoo! Sports.

Redick is the first active NBA player to host a podcast.

Redick has been having the best season of his career.

Blake Griffin has hurt his hand in a fight with a member of the Los Angeles Clippers' equipment staff.

Griffin suffered a fracture in his hand and will miss four to six weeks.

Griffin and the equipment staffer got into an argument in a restaurant during the team's trip to Toronto. Griffin hit the man, who then left the restaurant and went outside. Griffin followed him outside and hit him again.

The hand injury is expected to keep Griffin out "a matter of weeks, as opposed to days."

Griffin, who has been out with a quadriceps injury, originally hoped to return to the lineup during this road trip. 

In November 2014, Griffin was charged with one count of misdemeanor battery after allegedly getting into an altercation with a man at a Las Vegas nightclub. 

According to Sam Amick, the altercation was with Matias Testi, who has been close friends with Griffin for years. Griffin and Testi routinely banter back and forth.

Griffin and Testi have both been sent home to Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Clippers will sign Jeff Ayres to a 10-day contract.

The Clippers had an open roster spot following their trade of Josh Smith to the Houston Rockets.

Ayres spent two seasons with the San Antonio Spurs and has most recently been with the Idaho Stampede of the D-League.

Blake Griffin has increased the intensity of his workouts as he tries to return from a nearly month-long absence caused by a partially torn left quadriceps tendon.

Griffin could return as soon as Tuesday's game against the Indiana Pacers when the Los Angeles Clippers return home.

“We’re not going to rush it, I can tell you that,” Rivers said of Griffin's return.

The Clippers have gone 10-2 during Griffin’s absence.

The Los Angeles Clippers have traded Josh Smith back to the Houston Rockets.

Smith was signed by the Clippers in the offseason.

The Clippers will send cash to cover the remaining $460,000 on Smith’s $1.4 million minimum salary this season and the draft rights to Serhiy Lischuk.

Houston sends the Clippers the rights to Maarty Leunen. Neither player is expected to play in the NBA.

The Clippers previously considered waiving Smith before finding this trade with the Rockets, but this deal allows them to save $2 million in luxury tax.

LeBron James and Chris Paul have been named the NBA's Players of the Week.

James led Cleveland to the most wins in the Eastern Conference this past week with a perfect 4-0 record, which includes three wins by double-digits and three road victories. In the four games, James averaged 26.0 points on .582 shooting from the field, including .400 from the three-point line, 7.8 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.8 blocks in 35.0 minutes per game. Among Eastern Conference leaders, James was first in total points (104), first in field goals made (39), tied for first in points per game (26.0), fourth in total assists (28), tied for seventh in assists per game (7.0) and tied for seventh in three-pointers made (8).

Paul helped the Clippers to a 3-0 week behind averages of 23.7 points, 12.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals. He posted two double-doubles during the week and scored at least 20-plus points in all three games.