Grading Dunc’d On’s mock trade involving Detroit Pistons’ Andre Drummond
Detroit Pistons: A-
This is not a no-brainer for the Pistons organization as the deal certainly looks bad for an All-Star center. However, keeping Drummond might even be a worse path, just because of his player option.
If Drummond declines his option, the Pistons lose him for nothing. If he opts in, he’s on the books for $28.8 million. That could hinder the team’s rebuilding process.
analysis. Taking a look at Pistons' trade value. light
On the other hand, unloading Drummond’s salary with this trade opens up $5.2 million they can use to make other deals until the deadline. Right now, the Pistons are just under the tax and can’t make any trades where they take on more salary than they give out.
If they make this deal, they’ll have more leeway to sell some of their veterans to playoff teams in exchange for assets and matching salary. It opens up the possibility of trading with a team that is over the tax or close to it.
Such a team could be eager to part with a draft asset to get off the tax bill, as part of a bigger trade, and the Pistons would be happy to make such a deal.
mock trades. 4 Langston Galloway trades. light
They can sell Langston Galloway‘s expiring contract, for example, to a playoff team that could use shooting and take back up to $11.6 million. Shedding salary costs assets in the NBA and the Pistons could add a couple of second-round picks in that type of deal.
Most importantly, this move sets a clear direction for the franchise and clears the fog. The front office can come up with a long-term plan that doesn’t depend on whether Drummond re-signs or not. They’ll be free to rebuild however they see fit.
Maybe the Pistons will be able to re-sign Drummond this summer at a fair price but that is just not worth the risk. This is a good trade for them. Plus they get a mid-first-round pick if the Thunder are a playoff team in a couple of years.