NBA Trade Rumors: New York Knicks, Boston Celtics would be perfect fit for Andre Drummond
I didn’t see this one coming. Per reports on the NBA Trade Rumors front, the Detroit Pistons are quietly shopping Reggie Jackson, which is sort of shocking but Andre Drummond as well. The fact that Drummond’s name is being mentioned is enough to drive you nuts, it’s what was said that made me realize the Pistons front office has no plans of winning anytime soon. This is from NBA writer Zach Lowe.
Lowe doesn’t expect a deal to be made for Drummond considering the lack of need for a player like him. Jackson, on the other hand, could potentially find another home.
Seriously?
What team besides the Pistons cannot see what Drummond brings to a team? Maybe it’s not the player, maybe it’s the team. The Pistons have spent money but with little results. Players get frustrated with losing and that may result with poor showings on the court but how can you argue with a per of 15 points and 14 rebounds? But yet, they think his services won’t be needed by another team. Wow.
There are four teams I can think of off the top my head when I first read the news that would love to have a player like Drummond. The New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angles Lakers were the first to come to mind. Each team is in desperate need for a quality big man and I’m not making a reference to the stretch kind either. It’s no secret that defense wins championships, just ask the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Golden State Warriors what it means to lack an inside presence in the playoffs.
Drummond could be to the Knicks what they thought Joakim Noah was supposed to be. The same can be said for the struggling Blazers post defense. The Lakers have been in search for a quality big man since Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum departed ways and if the Celtics were to get a hold of him, no team would stop them in a seven-game series.
It will take a lot to get Drummond away but I may be looking at this from a standpoint of a person that understands what it takes to win. The Pistons have not seen the growth they were expecting but what were they looking for? He wasn’t an offensive beast in college, never showed that he would become one in the NBA. The Pistons decided he was worth $127M, where they got that from I have no idea. But that’s on them. Drummond has been the same since he entered the league.
A Knicks team that will feature Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis and Drummond could be dangerous in the East. The Lakers have young assets that might intrigue the Pistons. There’s no reason to believe that a deal could be struck that could land both Jackson and Drummond in L.A. The Blazers just traded for a big man but can they really pass up an opportunity to get the NBA’s leading rebounder to pair with Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum? But, those Celtics may have just what the Pistons need. A few serviceable, low contract guys and a draft pick, if Danny Ainge can pair Drummond, Al Horford and Jae Crowder in the same frontcourt, they just became title favorites.
I guess the Pistons were looking for Drummond to transform into Shaquille O’Neal overnight in terms of scoring but how can that be when he averages only 12 shots per game and a vast majority of those are off offensive rebounds? It’s not his fault but if the Pistons are willing to low-ball themselves then another team will gladly show them how important a player like Drummond is and can be to a title run.
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
