Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press Published 1:25 p.m. ET Jan. 11, 2020 | Updated 2:30 p.m. ET Jan. 11, 2020
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It’s difficult to keep up with the trade rumors surrounding Andre Drummond.
First, the Charlotte Hornets were linked to the Detroit Pistons center.
Then it was the Dallas Mavericks’ turn.
And early Friday evening, the New York Knicks were next in line to bid for the services for Drummond, who has become a lightning rod in his eight seasons with the Pistons.
It seems as if there is a robust market for Drummond, who multiple sources say is the subject of trade talks with several teams in advance of the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
The expectation is that Drummond will be traded as the Pistons look to move on to the next chapter and officially start to rebuild.
“We probably have to take some chances with some of the young guys, but absolutely,” Pistons owner Tom Gores said Jan. 2. “That’s what we’re aspiring to — something bigger than what we’ve been doing, but I haven’t lost faith in what (Pistons coach Dwane Casey) is doing and how we’re developing the players and our future.”
But in talking to league insiders for the past two weeks, parting with Drummond is tougher than it sounds.
Here are factors to keep in mind as you monitor the rumor mill:
[ What a Pistons-Hawks trade for Andre Drummond could look like ]
The latest intel
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Friday the Knicks have express interest in Drummond, news which was confirmed by others.
I checked Saturday morning with a league source familiar with the Knicks’ front office thinking and was told, “there’s nothing there.”
The source said it was the Pistons who initiated discussions with a package centered around Drummond and another Pistons player for big man Julius Randle and guard Frank Ntilikina, a player the Pistons have previously tried to pry from the Knicks.
Interesting info when you consider the latest news on Pistons-Hawks discussions.
The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported early Friday the Hawks “could have landed Drummond already if they were willing to include a first-round pick in the deal.”
That’s the main issue with trading Drummond.
The Pistons are working to land more than just expiring matching salaries.
They want at least one asset, meaning either a young player with promise or a future draft pick.
That could be a tough ask.
Drummond has a $28.7 million player option for next season that he plans to decline, meaning he will hit the open market this summer. He would try to sign a multi-year deal without much competition in what’s considered a down year for free agents.
Why would a team surrender an asset for a two-month rental?
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Teams are reluctant to surrender value under such a scenario.
Think back to Kemba Walker’s last season with Charlotte Hornets before the 2019 deadline. The Hornets kept Walker because teams were unwilling to offer a major haul for a player they could sign in a few months as a free agent. The Hornets decided to keep Walker, deciding he had more value in a playoff run. Walker signed with the Boston Celtics last offseason.
Walker, a top-10 point guard, has more value than Drummond.
It amounts to a game of chicken. Can the Pistons pry an asset or two loose from a team before Feb. 6?
As far as other teams, two league sources say the Mavericks’ interest in Drummond is lukewarm, at best.
[ Pistons’ 2020 NBA mock draft roundup: A look at early projections ]
Why Drummond lacks major value
Drummond put up his seventh 20-20 game of the season in Thursday night’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers; he scored 28 points and grabbed 23 rebounds in 49 minutes in the 115-112 overtime loss.
An impressive showing, but there are question marks.
At 26, Drummond has an impressive resume. He has three rebounding titles — he’s headed to a fourth — and reached two All-Star games.
He has improved every season.
He’s an adequate rim protector and very good at defending the pick-and-roll.
He’s among the league leaders in deflections and contested shots.
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But a closer look at the Cavs loss reveals maddening sequences. There was the left-handed scoop miss late in the game when the Pistons desperately needed a score. Critics rightfully wonder why Drummond didn’t aggressively attack the basket with two hands.
There was the rebound attempt with one hand late in the game, only to see guard Cavs guard Collin Sexton snatch the ball for a key offensive rebound.
Few players would survive such nitpicking. But they are examples of how Drummond tantalizes and ultimately does just enough for yet another close Pistons loss.
The main issue is Drummond is a traditional center, a position that’s being de-emphasized. There’s a market for his talents, but he requested a contract extension in the offseason, with a max contract price tag.
The Pistons countered with an offer that was significantly less.
It’s tough to see Drummond landing a max contract this offseason But that creates a reason the Pistons may ultimately deal Drummond for expiring contracts with no asset attached.
What if he picks up his player option for next season?
The Pistons are desperately trying to be under the cap next season, and a Drummond opt-in would create financial limitations once again for the front office that took over in the summer of 2018.
But if teams refuse to meet the asking price, another option could be to keep Drummond and explore options this offseason.
The Pistons have faded from playoff contention, so patience might be warranted.
Drummond has said he wants to stay with the Pistons — although after two playoff appearances with no postseason wins, it’s tough to see why.
“I’m not a quitter, never brought up to be a quitter,” Drummond said recently. “I started here, and I’m trying to finish here and try to complete the mission of winning a championship here. It’ll never be me that wants to go anywhere.
“I’d love to play the rest of my career here.”
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