The Hawks traded for one veteran today but are no longer pursuing another, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, who reports that Atlanta has ended its negotiations with the Pistons for center Andre Drummond.
While both sides were initially hopeful that they could work out a deal, Atlanta has decided to stay patient, recognizing that there will be chances to improve this summer in the draft and during the free agency period, sources tell Haynes.
According to Haynes, the Hawks and Pistons discussed a swap that would have sent a first-round pick, Damian Jones, and an expiring contract (either Chandler Parsons‘ or Allen Crabbe‘s) to Detroit in exchange for Drummond.
Crabbe was included in the deal the Hawks completed today with the Timberwolves for Jeff Teague, but Atlanta could’ve acquired Drummond without him, so it doesn’t appear that wasn’t a factor in the club’s decision to end trade talks with Detroit.
While the Hawks are no longer pursuing a trade for Drummond, that doesn’t mean their interest in him has disappeared. The Pistons’ big man will be one of Atlanta’s top targets in free agency if the team is still seeking a long-term answer at center at that point, sources tell Haynes. Thunder center Steven Adams, who has previously been linked to the Hawks, is still on the team’s radar and may be a target at the trade deadline or in free agency, Haynes adds.
According to Basketball Insiders’ data, the Hawks only have about $27MM in guaranteed money on their books for next season. That figure doesn’t include Jabari Parker‘s $6.5MM player option or cap holds for free agents, including potential RFAs DeAndre’ Bembry and Jones. But even after accounting for those costs, Atlanta will have more than enough cap space to aggressively pursue Drummond, Adams, or any other players they like.
The Pistons, meanwhile, continue to actively field inquiries on Drummond, according to Haynes. The Celtics, Mavericks, and Raptors were among the other teams said earlier this month to have interest in the NBA’s leading rebounder, though based on their assets and movable contracts, none of those clubs seemed to be as ideal a trade partner as Atlanta.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
They could have stolen Drummond
would drummond be able to walk for free though? Or is he a RFA.
He’s unrestricted, but they could have worked out an extension.
Drummond has a player option for 20-21
If he turns down his $28.8M option he will be an UFA.
If he turns down his $28.8M option he will be an UFA.
Hawks still should try to get drummond. A young, teague, drummond, john collins would be nasty.
What’s nasty about that? A first round playoff exit at best?
Lol ^ he’s right you know.
38 wins=Nasty
Sign him as an FA if they want, giving up the Nets’ first for him was always going to be a non-starter for the Hawks.
Hawks could of done a sign andtrade with drummond in offseason, if drummond was planning on leaving
Pistons were asking to much hahahah
Drummond is awful, he’s just a soft stat padding garbage tin. Yes he gets regular 15-15 games but who cares they are empty numbers.
This is the same guy that has played 8 years in the league and gone to the playoffs twice and got swept twice. His career FT% is less that 50%, my grandma could do better than that.
This dude gets killed every time he plays Joel Embid, in the past 2 weeks he let Tristan Thompson get a career high 35 points, he let Daniel Gafford in his first game starting as a rookie put up a better stat line than him and got tossed for throwing the ball at his head after he destroyed him in the paint. He’s now spending games closing on the bench because his poor defence.
He’s going to opt out of his deal and want a near max deal around 30 mil. Smart move by Atlanta, I said the pistons should have let him go for Parson Reddish and a second rounder, if Reddish was off the table that’s fine, ask for Hueter and if not him then take an additional 2 seconds and be done with it. Now your probably not going to get back a 20 mil expiring deal if you manage to trade him. If you don’t trade him you get nothing at all
Somebody had to say it. Drummond is an antique in terms of play. They are empty numbers.
He is a slightly better Enes Kanter.
I’d say Enes is much better offensively, he’s actually really good in the low post.
I’d say Drummond is Kyle OQuinn or Ed Davis stats per 36 minutes. Just boards and 2’s
Just another typical eastern All-Star who, like Kyrie, would barely get any votes if he had to play in the vastly superior West.
They still can trade Parsons for him and pick compensation, then be the only team able to offer him a 5th yr.
Hawks aren’t interested now what will they get for him.
Not going to lie I’d swap Drummond for Iain Mahinmi, Thomas Bryant and a second round pick.
Pistons get a young replacement in Bryant, a nice size expiring deal in Mahinmi and get a second round pick from a struggling team. Wizards obviously get to pair John Wall Bradley Beal Davis Bertans with Andre Drummond. Thats a playoff team in the east.
That Knicks offer from last week Julius Randle and a young player would be awesome either DSJ or Knox would be nice. But can’t see that happening. And