The Pistons are “welcoming offers” for Andre Drummond and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, according to Mark Stein of ESPN.com. It’s likely that Drummond stays with the franchise, as he’s beloved by owner Tom Gores, but the softened stance on the big man opens up the door on a potential trade.
The Blazers had discussions with the Pistons about bringing Drummond to Portland, but those talks ended when Detriot insisted on receiving C.J. McCollum in return, sources tell Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. Stein notes that the Blazers view McCollum as untouchable.
Stein adds that the Raptors and Pistons have had exploratory conversations on Drummond. Detroit has also engaged in conversations with the Nets. Before DeMarcus Cousins was traded to the Pelicans, the Pistons discussed a deal with the Kings centered around a Cousins-Drummond swap.
Drummond signed a max contract with the team over the summer. Caldwell-Pope will be a restricted after the season and the team is reportedly wary about having to give the shooting guard a sizable deal. Stein notes that the team is looking for at least one first-rounder in exchange for KCP.
If the Pistons hold onto Caldwell-Pope and re-sign him to a max deal in the offseason, they would be near the luxury tax line. That’s not an attractive position to be in for a team that sits below .500. However, coach/executive Stan Van Gundy tells Vince Ellis of the Detriot Free Press that ownership has not issued any mandate to shed salary this season.
76ers Okafor and a 1st round pick for KPC.
Philly has the cash to sign him and can use his defense.
Why would Detroit want Okafor as long as they have Drummond? Which first are you offering? If they do trade Drummond SVG would likely go after a defensive minded center over someone like Okafor. That trade doesn’t make too much sense.
No Firsts ever
Anyone else think Ainge has a lot riding on his ability to make successful moves this deadline? He’s got a gold mine worth of picks scattered throughout the upcoming drafts, GREAT role playing talent on this team, players stashed overseas… there’s no reason he shouldn’t loosen up the belt and sit at the big boys table!
Yeah but everyone’s mad about him being stingy with his assets. They belong to HIM and HE can do whatever he pleases with it the NBA is not a communist government
Where do you see people saying he should just give them away? They are mad because he has a chance to put together a great team but he is passing up on it. You only get so many opportunities to win a Championship. Picks don’t always work out. Plus getting mad is part of being a fan.
I wouldn’t say he has to make a move before the deadline. Unless they were to somehow add two stars, one star (whoever it is; PG, Butler, Drummond, etc) doesn’t even guarantee the Celtics a trip to the Finals. It maybe gets them to the ECF against whoever, and that’s assuming IT and Horford can gel with whichever star they acquire and the rotation isn’t completely shot post trade. He does have to make a move, I say, by the draft (or post draft, similar to what Cleveland did with Wiggins). Yeah Fultz or Ball or whoever would be great, but that would only give them another young guard who would likely be two to three years before being a serious contributor on a championship team. By then, Bradley, Smart and IT are going to need extensions (or one of them gets traded/walks). He doesn’t have to make a move, but he should unless he’s content with waiting for Cleveland and Golden State to age/lose a key player or two.
I think Boston will land Drummond, he is a perfect fit for them and might make the Cs favorites over the Cavs. Though Detroit will only trade him for a big package.
Two Words: LEBRON JAMES
I bet he will have a great performance in his semifinals loss to the Celtics.
I’m a huge C’s fan, and even I know if we’re wanting to edge Lebron in the East, we need more than just Drummond. I’d love to land Paul George too. Very reminiscent of that draft night nearly 10 years ago… MAKE THOSE TRADES!!
I think it’s a pipe dream that Boston acquires two stars before the deadline. Ainge is reluctant to trade his assets for one star, let alone two. Plus, the rotation would be shot at that point. If the Celtics were to acquire two stars, you can pretty much kiss goodbye to Johnson, Crowder, Bradley, one of Smart/Brown, and probably one of Olynyk/Zeller. They could probably keep both Smart/Brown if they’re willing to part with both Brooklyn picks (in separate trades or both in one trade, doesn’t really matter).
Ugggh…We could have had Drummond
I should have reversed it. The Pistons may lose KPC for nothing this summer. They do not want to give him a close to max contract.
A first round pick is what they are looking for Philly has many 1st in play. Okafor as a throw in and second team center.
Drummond is great. Detroit should keep him.
Unless they planned on moving Drummond (or eventually trade Okafor) they’re not going to acquire Okafor for him to be the backup. They’d probably want either two firsts (at least one would probably have to be the future Sacramento pick) or one first and someone other than Okafor.