Just two years ago, Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond were the stars on a Pistons team that made the playoffs.
Griffin carried Detroit that season, averaging 24.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG and 5.4 APG, while his frontcourt partner averaged 17.3 PPG and a league-best 15.6 RPG.
Their careers remain on a parallel course but in a different way – both players have mutually agreed with their teams to sit out until a trade or a buyout can be arranged.
Griffin’s presence on the roster became an awkward situation for the Pistons, who are in full rebuild mode. Ideally, they’ll find a playoff contender willing to take Griffin off their hands. It will be an extremely tough sell, considering Griffin has lost his explosion after multiple knee surgeries and his max contract runs through next season, including a $39MM player option.
Most likely, the Pistons and Griffin will agree to a buyout and allow Griffin to hook onto a team that needs help at power forward.
Detroit practically gave Drummond away to the Cavaliers last season, rather than risk having him opt it and hamstring its rebuilding efforts.
Drummond will be headed to unrestricted free agency this offseason, making him somewhat easier to trade than Griffin.
When Cleveland acquired Jarrett Allen in the James Harden multi-team blockbuster, the four-time rebounding champion became a very expendable part. The key will be matching up salaries comparable to the $28.75MM that Drummond is making this season.
That brings us to our topic of the day: Where do you think Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond will wind up playing the remainder of the season?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in. We look forward to your input.
I think Drummond will be traded to the warriors for Wiggins and draft picks
You’re delusional
Riveting commentary with an exceptional explanation on why you disagree. Well done
Maybe they throw in Kevin love and the dubs give up Steph.
Both waived. Griffin to Dallas, Drummond to Brooklyn.
No science involved, both go to the closest playoff team to their home towns.
Future is murky for both players. Drummond will be around, but at what salary? Whiteside is a minimum guy & is a situational player now. Drummond might see that type of $ this summer.
Griffin might retire if his next stop is a bust. He may be cooked. Literally. Worn to the bone in those knees.
Na, imo hes a MLE guy and gets a Harrell Ibaka TT deal maybe sans the 2nd year player option –
1/10 seems right. Theres a lotta Good teams in need of rim protection/rebounding right now and next years free agency is void of talent – Good agent prolly gets him MLE x 2 years with his option for year 2
I’d love seeing Drummond to Boston via trade and Blake to Boston via buyout. The Celtics bigs are terrible.
I think Blake goes to Miami and Drummond to whoever offers him the most $$$.. my 2 cents
I could see Mia working for Blake in the 2nd unit as well. They’ve been pretty good at late ending revival stories with past stars ….. Long as Blake knew his expectations were just a 2nd unit hustle guy could be a good marriage
I could c Blake to Dallas. They need a playoff experienced big. And Drummond to Boston or Brooklyn, maybe a surprise team like the Clippers or Grizzlies. Where Drummond needs to go is somewhere like Charlotte that really needs a big badly. Where he could play the season out and put up stats for free agency next year.
Blake and Ellington to MIA for Igu, Olynk, and Harkless.
They will be waived, then some sucker will pick them up.
This is crazy
Resting them 6 weeks is just too long
6 weeks to TD
Griffin to Mavs
Dinosaur to Knicks
Money
If either of them are traded it will be a huge gift for Detroit or Cleveland.
One teams unwanted player. Is another teams player who fits right. Different Team offense and team defense can help a player find a better fit. Where you use his strengths. Instead of not using him cause of his weaknesses. NO and Lakers couldn’t fit Randle. Always said he needed good coaching. Cause a 20 n 10 guy does not come along every yr. Thankfully he finally got it together under Thibs. Griffin to me has value in OKC. Fans will be back next yr. He can mentor a young team and play in his home town. Drummond is 27 and is best rebounder in NBA. His pts are the best it’s ever been. His best athletic yrs will be the next 6 yrs. Now he’s not worth max money like Rudy is to Jazz (overpaid a little). But he’s worth money to Hornets, Raptors, Mavs. All three are playoff teams with him and have brighter future. In a team gm it’s all about fit n chemistry.
Knicks mostly got killed for trading KP by national media. Especially after (in their minds) we didn’t sign KD n Kyrie with our cap space. Like they are coming here simply cause we got cap room. Is that all it takes to sign a star these days ?? They killed Randle his first yr here. Even though his stats were solid (1 yr). Now Randle puts up 44 and espn is calling him an all star. Now our trade of KP looks like this. As of now we got a top 10 pick plus another next yr. And we signed a future all star, plus a supersub in Rose. Plus the flexibility of cap space this FA yr 2021. It’s all about the long game. Nothing gets done in one yr. Especially when you rebuild thru draft. If I was Drummond I go to Hornets and finally make that franchise a winner. He’s a good fit there and they will appreciate him.
The interesting part of what you said about players coming for cap space is partially true.
Now it worked in Miami and Brooklyn because of the location and in Miami, the legacy.
However, if say Charlotte had all the cap space to sign 3 stars and form a super team, that’s appealing to them to team up together
Just having cap space is not enough. You have to have complimentary players. Or the option to get them. Or like Nets did (assets) be able to make a major trade. Basketball is a team gm. But if you have 2 or 3 of the top 20 players in the game. That’s 50% of your starting team. The right mix can definitely bring big results. Bron is a good example. Remember he’s the ultimate team player. Not every big 3 is going to bring big results.
TBH, Drummond looked mentally a step slow on the Cavs, so would be best on the Lakers were Lebron can run things slow, and get him fired up, as need be. Also center is a weak spot there especially if AD doesn’t get healed up.
Griffin… Dallas. But not ahead of Kleber.
Agree with you x%sure… Dre is no doubt at all an All-Star level player, but this season he has played the worst ball of the last 6 years, so he is having a very down year, 18/14 is a downer for him, but in the right situation he can really thrive & go back to his usual beasting it!
I think Drummond would look great with the Spurs! Even if it is off the bench.
Blake may work best with a playoff team that needs 10-15 min of “rough” off the bench. It will have to be an agreed upon buyout and both sides need to be gracious.
I bet Weaver has 2-3 more trades and deals up his sleeve too.
Griffin hasn’t got much left to give but on a good team with a good coach he might just lift.
The Bulls have Otto Porter and his 28.5 mil sitting there. With Wendel Carter often injured, they could send Porter straight up for Drummond and add a useful piece for this year. Cleveland gets another expiring contract in return that doesn’t conflict with Allen’s role.
Why? So they can be a 9 seed? The Bulls are in the process of evaluating what they have. You don’t take back a one year contract at the price. If Porter is dealt you want picks or a multi year contract that helps the team.
Blake to Miami. Drummond to Boston. Blake will likely be bought out. I can see the Celts in a trade for Drummond.
Statistically Drummond is putting up better numbers this yr. His best yrs he played 33-34 mins a gm. This yr he is at 28.6 mins. So do the math. The guy is 27. You do understand when an athletes body n gm peaks. The right team will get the best of him. The right mix and chemistry will get the best from him.