NBA Rumors: The Charlotte Hornets could be one team that targets Andre Drummond at the NBA Trade Deadline, or perhaps in free agency this summer
The Detroit Pistons have gotten off to a shaky start to the season and currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference standings with a 6-11 record. However, one bright spot for the team this season has been Andre Drummond.
Drummond, who could become a free agent after the season if he opts out of the final deal of his contract, is having a career year with the Pistons. The big man is averaging 18 points, 17 rebounds, three assists and nearly two blocks per game while shooting 54 percent from the field.
He’s been one of the biggest consistencies on this Pistons team, as they recover from injuries in this young season. Despite that, Drummond’s future with the team is still very much a question mark.
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And a big reason why happens to be the fact that they have already significant money invested in Blake Griffin, Drummond’s fellow running mate along the frontcourt. In the modern NBA, you don’t see many contending teams with a max contract center and power forward. In fact, the only team close to having that type of dynamic is the Philadelphia 76ers.
The only reason why it’s really worked for them is that Joel Embiid is a unicorn – something that I’m not sure Drummond is – and they still have Ben Simmons on a manageable contract.
You’d have to believe that Drummond will be line for a max contract this offseason, especially with a not-so-deep free agency market. I’m not sure the Pistons are in a position where they could afford to make such a move and still move up the overall standings in the Eastern Conference.
While Drummond is a good player, I’m not sure he’s one that really shifts the ceiling all that much for this team. And if the Pistons continue to spiral into the middle of the season, and fall further down the Eastern Conference standings, it could open the possibility for the team trading him at the NBA Trade Deadline.
If so, there will be suitors. One of them could reportedly be the Charlotte Hornets.
"[via Heavy.com]The target, according to league sources: Pistons big man Andre Drummond, a player in whom the Hornets have had an interest for at least a year."
The Hornets haven’t exactly gotten off to a much better start, in compared to the Pistons, but are starting to put together a nice young core. Charlotte went out and signed Terry Rozier over the summer and drafted PJ Washington in the 2019 NBA Draft. It would make sense for them to be in the market this summer, once again, to add another young, emerging star.
Perhaps that could be Andre Drummond. If the Hornets don’t make an offer for him at the NBA Trade Deadline, it would make sense, assuming the interest is still there, for the team to chase him during the offseason.