Andre Drummond is on an expiring contract, which makes for an interesting decision for the Detroit Pistons on whether to trade him or keep him.
Andre Drummond’s latest interview was a huge indication towards his potential offseason decision and with him almost certainly entering unrestricted free agency this summer.
The Detroit Pistons should want to maximize the return they could get by trading Drummond if they think he won’t resign, if he’s even in their future plans.
Detroit has the NBA’s easiest schedule before the All-Star break but the toughest March in the league could dictate the Pistons’ trade deadline plans.
In this story we are assuming that Drummond will be dealt before the February deadline so here are five trades that I believe are the most likely, even though a Drummond trade probably isn’t that likely. In most of these deals I suggest what each team will gain and look like after the proposed trade.
Let’s jump in.
Gordon Hayward’s freak injury that ended his season made his four-year, $127.8 million deal go from a great deal to one of the league’s worst deals. When Hayward signed his contract, he was coming off a career year averaging 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, warranting the huge payday.
Last season, Gordon underwhelmed and scored 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, dropping over 10 points per game. Getting back a great rebounder and pick-and-roll machine for Hayward would help the Celtics try to get back to the top of the Eastern Conference. Adding Drummond would shift the Celtics depth chart to Kemba Walker, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Drummond with Carsen Edwards, Romeo Langford, Langston Galloway, Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter rounding out the bench unit.
Most of the Pistons fans hoped and dreamed that Walker and Drummond would pair up in Detroit or maybe the UConn grads would have even together in Charlotte. But in this reality, they are together in Boston.
The Kemba-Drummond pick-and-roll and alley-oops will be a great option to slow down the game when the other starters need a breather in Boston as Drummond and Walker are coming from situations where they played tons of minutes. Drummond clogging up the paint will allow Tatum, Brown, and Smart to have space to go to work on the wings and put up more shots due to how much better of a rebounder Drummond is compared to Al Horford.
Last season, Drummond averaged 17.3 points and 15.6 rebounds per game while Horford averaged 13.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Andre’s difference will be most important as he has 5.4 offensive rebounds to Al Horford’s 1.8 will allow more shots for the Celtics.
How the Pistons change
The Pistons will not be excited about losing Drummond, but switching it up by bringing in a wing, Hayward and a backup center in Robert Williams III will give the Pistons a more modern offense. Also getting the Memphis first rounder will be a huge pick up as they can flip that pick for another star or draft another young piece to kick off the eventual rebuild. Gordon Hayward’s more natural position is at small forward so this could give the Pistons two probable starting lineups. The most common lineups will then be Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard, Hayward, Markieff Morris, Blake Griffin; or Jackson, Kennard, Hayward, Griffin, Williams/Thon Maker.
Putting Hayward at the small forward position and Griffin as either the small-ball center or allowing Morris into the starting lineup will fix the ongoing lack of shooting that has plagued the Pistons for years. The way the league is going, having Maker or Williams III, a cheap center, or Griffin as a floor spacing small-ball center are the way of the future. Teams like the Celtics, Raptors, Warriors, Sixers, and other contenders have 4-5 knock down shooters and after this trade, the Pistons could fit that mold.