Where's Andre Drummond Going — The Tranquility Before the Deal Turbulence

Recently, trade rumors about Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond have gradually surfaced, and many teams have expressed interest in Drummond, but will Drummond really change to a new owner before the 2/6 trade deadline? Things may not be that simple.

First of all, Drummond's current $27.1 million contract in the final year includes a player option , which means that even if he is traded to a new owner, he can leave in free agency as long as his boss is unhappy. It increases the potential risk and greatly increases the difficulty of trading him.

Second, despite team owner Tom Gore's implicit welcome to any trade and the possibility of rebuilding , Drummond recently told reporters that he wanted to stay in Detroit and expressed his loyalty to Detroit, adding to the Drummond battle. Lots of variables.

"I'm not one to run away"

"I want to finish the championship in Detroit"

"I love Detroit and I want to end my career here"

A variety of reasons complicate Drummond's trade turmoil, not to mention that as long as Drummond doesn't leave Detroit, he doesn't necessarily have to use his player options before being traded.

Despite this, many teams are still interested in Drummond's services. After all, there are very few players who can average 14.3 points and 13.8 rebounds in their careers, even in an era when the quality of centers is generally weak.

Having said all that, let's take a look at the contenders who have signed up for the Drummond trade scramble so far and their chances of succeeding in acquiring the rebounder.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics are probably the least likely team on this list to get Andre Drummond.

In a situation where the two teams have to match trade salaries, the only player on Cyprus who can match Drummond's salary is Gordon Hayward. But with Hayward only one year left on his contract and a player option, keeping Hayward makes more sense than trading Drummond.

Other trade chips such as Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are all players that the Cypriot team focuses on developing, and the possibility of using them as Drummond trade bait is really low.

Rather than trading Drummond, Cypriot general manager Danny Ainge is more likely to go to a big buyout auction or a smaller deal.

Dallas Mavericks

On paper, Drummond and the Mavericks seem like a match made in heaven. The unicorn Porzingis and Drummond's in-and-out twin towers perfectly complement the two players' weaknesses -- Porzingis' rebounding and Drummond's offense. Not to mention that both Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dwight Powell are viable trading chips.

But as long as Dallas has the league's No. 1 offense for a day, Drummond's trade to Dallas doesn't make sense. The Mavericks, led by Luka Doncic, are currently occupying the No. 1 offense in the NBA at a historic pace. The Mavericks average 115.5 points per 100 possessions, their best offensive efficiency since the statistic began.

Let's look at the rebounding stats Drummond is good at. Dallas now ranks seventh in the league in offensive rebounding and defensive rebounding, and with such high offensive and rebounding efficiency, it's hard to imagine the Mavericks making a big bet to trade Drummond.

Atlanta Hawks

In an ideal world, Drummond and the Eagles would be a near-perfect pairing.

Just imagining the pick-and-roll combination of Drummond and Trae Young is mouth-watering, and Drummond and teenager John Collins' paint-block combo is also very exciting. Plus, the Hawks, who lost Dewayne Dedmon this season, need Drummond's rebounding ability badly.

The Hawks also have rookies De'Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish and shooter Kevin Huerter to lure the Pistons in chips, not to mention that Chandler Parsons' massive contract could make a trade viable.

The Hawks and Drummond look like a match made in heaven no matter what, which is why there have been rumors of a trade contact between the two teams. The downside of the trade is that there is no guarantee of a Drummond extension and the loss of young players. But betting on Drummond wasn't a bad decision with a rebuild centered around Young.

Toronto Tyrannosaurus

The Raptors may be the contenders with the best chance of convincing Drummond to re-sign with the team for a long time. The team not only has the fourth record in the Eastern Conference without Kawhi Leonard, but also the new dragon king Pascal Siakam has broken the cocoon. out performance.

With Drummond only 26 years old, the Raptors can use Marc Gasol and young teenager Chris Boucher as chips to bring Drummond back to Canada and challenge the championship again. In terms of lineup, Kyle Lowry will be the best pick-and-roll combination of Drummond's entire career, and the twin towers formed by Ibaka are even more reasonable. Most importantly, Drummond can perfectly complement the Raptors' 27th-ranked defensive rebounding efficiency.

For Detroit, Marc Gasol will be a free agent after this season, and he can also hold several future draft picks with the Raptors to minimize Drummond's losses.

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