Best trade each rumored team can offer the Detroit Pistons for Andre Drummond
1. Atlanta Hawks
Drummond seems to be a great fit alongside Trae Young, who would easily be the best point guard Drummond will have played with in his career. The two would be a solid pick-and-roll duo with their gravity and Drummond’s offensive rebounding ability. Playing alongside a sharpshooter in Kevin Huerter, a two-way star in John Collins and a defensive stopper in De’Andre Hunter would create a formidable core going forward.
Atlanta, which is 7-27 and sits with the worst record in the NBA, figures to keep its own pick or heavily protect it. Future picks would likely be in play, as would Brooklyn’s 2020 first rounder.
trade rumors. Pistons engaged with Hawks in Andre Drummond trade talks. light
The Hawks have a full compliment of expiring contracts. Chandler Parsons, who is friends with Blake Griffin, is an easy match piece at $25.1 million. But the Hawks also have wings in Evan Turner ($18.6 million) and Allen Crabbe ($18.5 million). Alex Len could be a placeholder for the remainder of the year with an expiring $4.1 million.
Aside from a deal including Parsons, Crabbe and a pick proposed here, the Hawks could be pushed to include more in a possible bidding war.
When comparing deals, this may be the best Atlanta would offer. Young, Collins and Hunter are likely players that would be off the board, though Hunter should be the player the Pistons target. Rookie Cam Reddish may also be in play, though he hasn’t had a great start to his career, shooting 32.1% from the field with a Player Efficiency Rating of 5.9.
Heurter, 21, has seen his numbers bump up in his second season, despite dealing with injuries and seeing fewer minutes, as a result of getting to the free throw line. His passing and rebounding has improved, too. He would fit well on a timeline with Sekou Doumbouya, Bruce Brown and provides an additional shooter to pair with Luke Kennard.
Bruno Fernando has been solid around the rim and has a developing mid-range game that could turn into a decent perimeter game. The 6-foot-9, 233-pound big man has a 52.5% true shooting percentage, 14.4% rebounding rate and 11.7% assist rate.
Len and Crabbe would simply fill in as salary and roster fillers through the end of the season. A heavily protected pick is an additional asset to the deal, though it likely wouldn’t convey.