Yahoo Finance Report: Hawks, others in trade talks with Pistons for Andre Drummond
The Detroit Pistons are apparently considering dealing away star center Andre Drummond ahead of the trade deadline next month.
The Pistons, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, are having “escalating discussions” with several teams, including with the Atlanta Hawks. Per the report, the Hawks have talked about a trade package that includes a 2020 first round draft pick, among other things.
Drummond has averaged 17.6 points and a league-high 15.8 rebounds this season with the Pistons, his eighth in the league since Detroit selected him with the No. 9 overall pick in 2012. The two-time All-Star is in the fourth year of a five-year, $127 million deal with Detroit, though is expected to turn down his $29 million option for next season and become a free agent, per Wojnarowski.
Dealing Drummond would be in line with Pistons owner Tom Gores’ comments earlier this week when asked if he was fine with rebuilding the franchise and collecting younger talent, The Pistons are just 12-23 and near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings yet again, so trading away Drummond would ensure Detroit benefits from his departure.
“We probably have to take some chances with some of the young guys, but absolutely,” Gores said, via the Detroit Free Press. “That’s what we’re aspiring to — something bigger than what we’ve been doing, but I haven’t lost faith in what [Pistons coach Dwane Casey] is doing and how we’re developing the players and our future.”
When asked specifically about Drummond, though, Gores was less specific.
“Andre’s going to have to make his choice,” Gores said, via the Free Press. “Andre’s a great player, so we’ll just see. All these things are unknown.”
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