KEY POINTS

  • Pistons listening to offers for Andre Drummond
  • Detroit may be starting their rebuild as early as now
  • Drummond and Griffin could be dealt before the NBA trade deadline

The Detroit Pistons entered the 2019-20 NBA season with the intent of making the playoffs. Running 11th in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons find themselves with an unacceptable 12-23 win-loss record. Now, it appears changes are forthcoming.

One player who has been mentioned time and again in NBA trade talks is Andre Drummond. The Pistons have reportedly escalated talks and there are several teams interested. Among them include the Atlanta Hawks, a team that could use the 6-foot-10 center, ESPN reported. Drummond could be the guy the Hawks need to combine with resident star guard Trae Young.

A Drummond-Young combo makes plenty of sense. For one, the two are close friends so the matter of chemistry should not be much of a problem. It should be noted that even if a trade with Atlanta materializes, the result of the tandem may not be felt until the next NBA season. As of this writing, the Hawks are dwelling in the cellar of the Eastern Division with a 7-28 card.

But the Hawks are not the only team interested in the two-time NBA All-Star. According to Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors are also interested in dealing for Drummond.

Trading away Drummond may also make sense for the Pistons. The 9th overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft will have a player option after this season. Worth $28 million, there is a possibility that Drummond may pass on it. Hence, the Pistons may be thinking ahead. It would be best to deal away their big man and get something in return.

For the season, Drummond has been putting up decent numbers. He is averaging 17.6 points,15.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.8 blocks. With impressive numbers to show, it comes to no surprise that multiple teams would be interested in getting the former cager out of the University of Connecticut.

Team owner Tom Gores made it clear that they will evaluate the team and make changes before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Aside from Drummond, there could be other players up for grabs. As mentioned in a previous post, Blake Griffin could be another candidate for an NBA trade. More could be placed on the block as the Pistons try to rebuild with the season slowly slipping away from their grasp.

Andre Drummond
Andre Drummond is unmindful of NBA trade talk and prefers to just play basketball for the Detroit Pistons. Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons tries to get around the defense of Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz during the first half at Little Caesars Arena on January 05, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Getty Images/Gregory Shamus