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Pistons Notes: Drummond, Rose, Wood, Kennard, More

February 7th, 2020 at 12:31pm CST by Luke Adams

After a report on Thursday morning suggested the Pistons would likely hang onto center Andre Drummond, the team ended up making a deal just hours later, sending the longtime Piston to Cleveland for a modest package that included a pair of expiring contracts and a future second-round pick. Drummond, perhaps having expected to remain in Detroit, immediately responded to the trade on Twitter.

“If there’s one thing I learned about the NBA, there’s no friends or loyalty,” Drummond tweeted. “I’ve given my heart and soul to the Pistons , and to have this happen with no heads-up makes me realize even more that this is just a business!”

Speaking today to reporters about the deal, head of basketball operations Ed Stefanski said that Drummond and his representatives knew he was being discussed in trade talks, but acknowledged that the Cavs emerged as an option at the 11th hour, pretty close to the deadline.

“The worst thing in the world is have to trade someone who’s been here (for a long time),” Stefanski said, per Rod Beard of The Detroit News. “This is the only place he’s been in. Emotions are raw. ‘Dre knew he was in trade talks and I was talking to his representatives about different things. Cleveland came in late. I guess you’d have to talk to ‘Dre what exactly he meant. But again, emotions are raw when this stuff happens. I understand that.”

While many NBA observers were surprised at how little the Pistons received for Drummond, Stefanski suggested there weren’t stronger offers out there, pointing out that the center position isn’t valued “like it once was” (Twitter links via James Edwards III of The Athletic).

Here’s more on the Pistons:

  • Strong offers didn’t really materialize for Derrick Rose, according to Vince Ellis of The Detroit Free Press, who tweets that potential suitors may have been scared off by Detroit’s high asking price and Rose’s desire to stick with the Pistons.
  • Langston Galloway and Markieff Morris, who are both on expiring contracts, didn’t generate much serious interest around the NBA, sources tell James Edwards III of The Athletic. Stefanski suggested today that Detroit probably couldn’t have gotten more than a draft pick in the 50s for those players, Edwards tweets. The Pistons preferred to finish the year with their veterans.
  • Edwards, who reported on Thursday that the Pistons turned down a Celtics offer for Christian Wood, notes that Wood has interest in re-signing with Detroit this summer.
  • The Pistons started talking in earnest about a rebuild after injuries derailed their playoff chances this season, since the team doesn’t want to be stuck in the middle of the pack anymore, per Stefanski (Twitter links via Edwards). “We are looking to rebuild,” Stefanski said. “What the future holds will be interesting. We haven’t had the luxury of having cap space since we’ve been here — do you use it in free agency, collecting assets or making trades? We have to use it wisely.”
  • Stefanski declined to specifically address the rumored Luke Kennard trade talks, but said the young shooting guard is “well-liked by other NBA teams.” The Pistons are happy to keep Kennard and make him part of their rebuild, according to Stefanski, who adds that the 23-year-old may be ready to return from his knee injury after the All-Star break (all Twitter links via Edwards).
  • The Pistons haven’t discussed a potential buyout for Reggie Jackson, according to Stefanski (Twitter link via Beard).
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Rockets Inquire About Thompson, Wood

February 6th, 2020 at 12:44pm CST by Dana Gauruder
 The Rockets explored the possibility of acquiring Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson but couldn’t come up with a suitable trade package to match up salaries, Chris B. Haynes of Yahoo Sports tweets.
Houston is seeking another rotation player, regardless of position, and has had talks with the Pistons regarding young big Christian Wood, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter links).
The Rockets dealt away their top frontcourt player, Clint Capela, in a complex four-way trade that sent forward Robert Covington to Houston.
They have gone with smaller lineups in recent games but their interest in Thompson and Wood suggests they are looking to play a more conventional style if they can land another power forward or center. Thompson has an expiring $18.5MM contract and Wood will also be an unrestricted free agent after the season. He has blossomed this season in Detroit after being plucked off waivers last summer.
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Pistons Unlikely To Trade Drummond Or Rose

February 6th, 2020 at 10:41am CST by Arthur Hill

It appears the Pistons‘ top two trade candidates will remain in Detroit past today’s deadline. There’s an “increased likelihood” that an Andre Drummond deal won’t materialize, tweets Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, while Derrick Rose is expected to stay unless the team gets an unexpected offer, writes Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports.

The Pistons have been trying for weeks to find a taker for Drummond, with the Hawks and Knicks being prominently mentioned. However, interest from both teams cooled because of Detroit’s asking price and the expectation that Drummond will opt out of his $28.75MM salary for next season, making him a short-term rental if his new team isn’t ready to heavily invest long-term.

Sources tell Goodwill that the Pistons will consider moving Rose if they receive a lottery pick in return, but it’s hard to imagine that a non-contender would give up a high draft choice for the 31-year-old guard. The Lakers, Clippers and Jazz all inquired about Rose, Goodwill adds, but none of them has the draft capital the Pistons are looking for.

Rose has said he likes playing in Detroit and doesn’t want to be traded, even though the Pistons are a disappointing 19-34 and four games out of a playoff spot. Rose signed a two-year deal over the summer and will make $7.68MM next season.

With major deals apparently off the board, the Pistons will shift their focus to trying to move Markieff Morris and Langston Galloway, according to Rod Beard of The Detroit News (Twitter link). However, he notes that many of the contending teams have already completed trades, so the Pistons may not get the assets they want in return (Twitter link).

Detroit turned down an offer from the Celtics for Christian Wood, tweets James Edwards III of The Athletic. Wood, who has an expiring $1.6MM contract, may be the long-term replacement at center if Drummond leaves.

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Lowe’s Latest: Redick, Bertans, Collins, Drummond, OKC, More

February 3rd, 2020 at 9:14am CST by Luke Adams

A number of players who have been mentioned as trade candidates this season may not be moved – or may not be available at all – at Thursday’s deadline, ESPN’s Zach Lowe writes in an article jam-packed with trade-related rumors and speculation.

For instance, teams who have called the Pelicans asking about J.J. Redick have been “shooed away,” sources tell Lowe. The Wizards have taken a similar approach to clubs inquiring on Davis Bertans, though Lowe notes that could change if Washington is offered something concrete that moves the needle more than a future first-round pick.

As Shams Charania of The Athletic reported last week, teams have been monitoring John Collins in case the Hawks think about trading him, but there’s no indication Atlanta has interest in moving Collins “on any of the general terms being bandied about,” Lowe writes.

The Pistons‘ talks involving Andre Drummond aren’t entirely dormant, but it’s “far from a sure thing” that he’ll be moved, according to Lowe, who suggests that even if Detroit does make a deal, the return will likely be less than the team envisioned.

Meanwhile, the Thunder have been mentioned all season long as a potential seller, given their offseason moves and their veteran trade candidates. But the safest bet is that they stand pat with guys like Danilo Gallinari, Dennis Schroder, and Steven Adams, per Lowe.

As Lowe points out, the Thunder could still have leverage to make deals after the season, when Schroder and Adams will be entering contract years and Gallinari will be a prime sign-and-trade candidate. The Heat are among the teams to inquire on Gallinari this season, sources tell Lowe.

As noted above, Lowe’s latest ESPN piece is filled with many more trade rumors and notes. Here are several of the highlights:

  • Lowe confirms a previous report that the Nuggets and Heat are among the teams to express interest in Jrue Holiday. Lowe also names the Raptors as a club that would be an ideal fit for the Pelicans guard, but he has a hard time envisioning a deal involving any of those teams unless they’re willing to part with young players like Michael Porter Jr., Tyler Herro, or OG Anunoby, which seems unlikely.
  • The Pacers could probably net a first-round pick for backup guard Aaron Holiday, but haven’t shown any real interest in moving him, says Lowe.
  • The chatter about the Trail Blazers making a major win-now move has died down, sources tell Lowe.
  • According to Lowe, the Lakers have explored the Kyle Kuzma market and are eyeing several ball-handlers, including Kings swingman Bogdan Bogdanovic, who has also received interest from the Hornets.
  • The Sixers don’t intend to include Matisse Thybulle in any deal and seem most likely to “tinker” around the edges of their roster, per Lowe.
  • The Grizzlies have asked for a first-round pick from teams inquiring on Jae Crowder, according to Lowe. However, he’d “bet heavily” against any potential trade partner meeting that price.
  • Lowe provides updates on both Morris brothers, suggesting that the Knicks “seem hell-bent” on keeping and re-signing Marcus Morris, and citing sources who say the Pistons could probably get a second-round pick for Markieff Morris.
  • A lot of teams have asked the Bucks about Sterling Brown, while Pistons youngsters Christian Wood and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk have also generated interest, according to Lowe, who thinks that Detroit is more likely to engage in talks on Wood than Mykhailiuk. Lowe also hears that a few clubs have “poked around” on Kings big man Harry Giles, and identifies Denzel Valentine (Bulls), Jakob Poeltl (Spurs), Marvin Williams (Hornets), and Malik Monk (Hornets) as other under-the-radar trade candidates to watch.
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Free Agent Stock Watch 2020: Central Division

January 31st, 2020 at 9:57pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Every week, Hoops Rumors takes a closer look at players who will be free agents or could become free agents next offseason. We examine if their stock is rising or falling due to performance and other factors. This week, we take a look at players from the Central Division:

Christian Wood, Pistons, 24, PF (Up) – Signed to a two-year, $3.16MM deal in 2018
There aren’t many waiver claims in the NBA but Detroit got itself a bargain when it snared Wood after the Pelicans made him available. Wood won a training camp battle with veteran forward Joe Johnson for Detroit’s final roster spot and has turned into a valuable rotation member. He’s averaging 10.2 PPG and 5.3 RPG in 17.4 MPG, including a 20-point, eight-rebound outing against the Nets on Wednesday. A lack of maturity and focus were the reasons Wood bounced around the league for a few years but he’ll get a much bigger contract as an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Shaquille Harrison, Bulls, 26, PG (Down) – Signed to a one-year, $1.62MM deal in 2019
Harrison won a battle for Chicago’s final roster spot and eventually had his salary guaranteed. Harrison, who worked his way through the G League ranks before making his NBA debut two seasons ago with Phoenix, has only seen spot duty this season. In his last 16 appearances, Harrison has not played more than 11 minutes. He was a much bigger factor last season when the Bulls were banged up, appearing in 73 games, including 11 starts. The Bulls can make Harrison a restricted free agent by extending a qualifying offer of $2MM but he doesn’t appear to be in their long-range plans.

Brandon Knight, Cavaliers, 28, PG (Down) – Signed to a five-year, $70MM deal in 2015
Knight’s career has been sidetracked by injuries and once again he’s out of action due to left knee soreness. Knight’s $15.6MM expiring contract could still be used in a major deal but even when he’s able to suit up, he rarely receives playing time. The addition of Dante Exum pushed him further down the bench. In his last two appearances in mid-January, Knight totaled one point in 38 minutes. The former lottery pick, who averaged 19.6 PPG for Phoenix during the 2015/16 season, will likely have to settle for a veteran’s minimum deal this summer.

JaKarr Sampson, Pacers, 26, PF (Down) – Signed to a one-year, $1.7MM deal in 2019
Sampson got a chance to start on Wednesday with Myles Turner sidelined by the flu. Otherwise, playing time has been scarce for the journeyman forward, who has also played for Philadelphia, Denver, Sacramento and Chicago during his NBA journey. He spent a good chunk of time last season in China and the G League. Sampson has appeared in 17 games this season, including 10 starts. Signed to a veteran’s minimum contract in August, Sampson will be an unrestricted free agent once again this summer. He’ll probably be looking at similar offers this July.

Dragan Bender, Bucks, 22, PF (Down) – Signed to a two-year, $3.5MM deal in 2019
The former top five pick made a minimal impact in his three seasons with the Suns. He’s been even less of a factor with the Eastern Conference’s top team, appearing in seven games. He’s played four games this month as an injury fill-in but contributed just 11 points with four turnovers in 62 minutes. Bender has spent quite a bit of time in the G League and perhaps his biggest accomplishment this season was staying on the roster and getting his salary guaranteed. His $1.82MM salary for next season is not guaranteed and it’s likely Bender will return to the free agent market for the second straight offseason.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Pistons Notes: Doumbouya, Drummond, Wood

January 31st, 2020 at 10:13am CST by Luke Adams

In the wake of Blake Griffin‘s season-ending injury, rookie forward Sekou Doumbouya was inserted into the Pistons‘ starting lineup and made a strong early impression, scoring double-digit points in seven of eight games and handling some challenging defensive assignments. However, the NBA’s youngest player has experienced some growing pains in recent weeks. Since scoring 24 points in Boston on January 15, Doumbouya has averaged just 3.9 PPG on .243/.105/.778 shooting in his last seven games (22.3 MPG).

The slump wasn’t unexpected for a player as inexperienced as Doumbouya — head coach Dwane Casey recognized that the rookie would have his ups and downs, as Keith Langlois of Pistons.com details. After playing just eight minutes in Wednesday’s loss to Brooklyn, Doumbouya may have a G League assignment in his future to help restore his confidence.

“There’s a chance he may go back to the G League just to get some more playing time, to get his thirst back,” Casey said. “Get the fundamentals back. More practice time because we’re not practicing that much. We’ll look into that as we go along.”

Here’s more on the Pistons:

  • This may be Andre Drummond‘s last season – or even his last week – with the Pistons, as the free-agent-to-be is also a candidate to be traded before next Thursday’s deadline. Even if he does end up leaving Detroit, Drummond will still have a special place in the hearts of the team’s fans, according to Eric Woodyard of ESPN, who explores the connection the veteran center has built with the city since being drafted in 2012.
  • Christian Wood has been far more productive in home games than road games so far this season, so his 20-point, eight-rebound performance in Brooklyn on Wednesday represented another promising step forward in what has been a breakout year — and potentially another step toward securing Wood’s future with the Pistons, writes Keith Langlois of Pistons.com.
  • Seth Partnow, Sam Vecenie, and Danny Leroux of The Athletic take an in-depth look at the options facing the Pistons at the trade deadline, exploring the odds of the team finding a taker for Drummond and suggesting possible Lakers and Sixers trade packages for Derrick Rose.
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Pistons Notes: Drummond, Rose, Jackson, Wood

January 12th, 2020 at 10:41am CST by Arthur Hill

Trading Andre Drummond may be more difficult than expected, writes Vincent Ellis of The Detroit Free Press. The Pistons are hoping to get a young player or a draft pick in return for their star center. But because Drummond intends to opt out of his contract this summer, teams would be taking a chance by giving up future assets for what could be a short-term rental.

Although the Knicks are the latest team to be mentioned in a possible Drummond deal, a source tells Ellis, “there’s nothing there.” The Pistons reportedly reached out to New York, offering Drummond and another player in exchange for Julius Randle and Frank Ntilikina, whom they have tried to obtain before.

Ellis compares Drummond’s situation to Kemba Walker‘s last season, noting that teams weren’t willing to make significant offers to Charlotte at the deadline, even though Walker is a better player. Ellis suggests the Pistons may elect to unload Drummond for a package of expiring deals, if only to eliminate the risk that he will opt into a $28.7MM salary for next season when the team hopes to be under the salary cap.

There’s more from Detroit:

  • In an interview with K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, Derrick Rose talks about possibly taking part in the skills competition during All-Star Weekend and discusses how he has responded to an increase in his minutes limitation. “I feel healthy. And I’m just trying to play with grace out there,” Rose said. “Trying to take shots that they’re giving me, be smart with my opportunities. It’s been a year since I’ve been at the point guard spot. I came back in the league at small forward with Thibs (then-Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau). And then I went to shooting guard with Minnesota after that. This year, it’s the first year I’m back at point guard.”
  • The Pistons are optimistic that Reggie Jackson may return to the lineup soon, according to Rod Beard of The Detroit News. Jackson, who hasn’t played since the first two games of the season, received encouraging news when he met with a back specialist in Los Angeles last week.
  • Now that Christian Wood‘s $1.6MM contract is officially guaranteed, he has a chance to play a full season for one team for the first time since entering the league in 2015, Beard adds in the same story. “The transition for me has been good. It’s something I hadn’t really thought about,” Wood said. “I didn’t really kind of know the (guarantee) dates, but now it’s something I’m proud of. I’m happy and I think I deserve it.”
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Pistons Notes: Griffin, Trade Deadline, Drummond, Wood

January 2nd, 2020 at 12:58pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Pistons got a relatively healthy season and a half out of Blake Griffin after the surprising trade that brought him to Detroit in January of 2018, but now they’re experiencing the “worst-case scenario” part of that deal, writes James Edwards III of The Athletic. Knee soreness has limited Griffin to 18 games this season as the Pistons are off to a 12-22 start that has them stuck in 11th place in the East. He’s posting career lows with 15.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, along with a .352 shooting percentage.

Griffin’s health issues made him a risky investment, but the bigger gamble was the huge contract he signed with the Clippers a few months before the deal. After making nearly $34.5MM this year, Griffin is owed $36.8MM in 2020/21 and has a $38.95MM player option the following season. That deal makes him extremely difficult to trade and presents an impediment for an organization that may be thinking about rebuilding.

Management rolled the dice on Griffin because they thought he would turn the Pistons into a perennial playoff team. However, Edwards notes that they were restricted from adding more talent because Griffin, Andre Drummond, Reggie Jackson and Jon Leuer combined for about $80MM in cap room when the trade was completed and all had more than a year left on their contracts.

There’s more from Detroit:

  • It will be difficult for the Pistons to move any of their large contracts before next month’s trade deadline, predicts Keith Langlois of NBA.com. With everyone except the Hawks over the cap, Langlois doesn’t expect any deals that will help a team take a significant amount of salary off its books. Detroit will have more flexibility this summer when Jackson’s contract expires and Drummond may opt out of his $28.75MM salary for next season.
  • Any championship window the Pistons may have had with their current roster is rapidly closing, observes Rod Beard of The Detroit News. Even though the front office brought in some help this summer by adding Derrick Rose, Markieff Morris and Tim Frazier, it hasn’t been enough to overcome injuries. Beard believes Langston Galloway and Rose would be the most attractive pieces if Detroit decides to become sellers at the deadline.
  • Christian Wood‘s future in Detroit will be tied to Drummond’s decision on his player option, Beard adds in the same piece. Wood will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and it’s unclear how much the Pistons would be willing to give him to continue in a backup role. However, he would be an option as a starter if Drummond opts out and signs elsewhere.
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Central Notes: Carter, Pacers, Wood, Satoransky

December 29th, 2019 at 3:43pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Second-year Bulls center Wendell Carter Jr. has been shooting more readily from long range recently, according to NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson. Carter’s improved three-point shooting could help expand Chicago’s offense if the uptick in attempts and makes continues.

A 41.3% shooter during his single year at Duke, Carter is just a career 22.7% three-point shooter in the NBA on 0.7 attempts. Across his last five Bulls contests, however, he has boosted his three-point attempts to 1.2 a night. Carter made two triples last night in a 116-81 blowout over the Hawks.

There’s more out of the Central Division:

  • A pair of road losses on a Friday-and-Saturday back-to-back, to the elite Heat and the bottom-dwelling Pelicans, have revealed that the Pacers appear able to play up or down to the level of their competition, according to J. Michael of the Indianapolis Star. Michael suggests that this trend could become dangerous should it continue.
  • Pistons power forward Christian Wood, an unrestricted free agent this summer, has earned his roster spot with the Pistons, writes Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. Detroit will almost certainly guarantee Wood’s contract come January 10. Langlois observes that Wood hopes to become part of the Pistons’ future. Head coach Dwane Casey applauds Wood’s development thus far this season. “That’s what this year is about – training and growth, longer periods of sustained focus,” Casey said. “He’s showing that on both ends of the floor, not getting caught up as much in the little things that take him out of plays offensively and defensively.” 
  • Bulls point guard Tomas Satoransky, one of the team’s premium 2019 summer signings, has been finding his sweet spot in Chicago, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. “I think I’ve had a lot of ups and downs this season,” Satoransky said. “I feel great. I’m more consistent [lately].” The 28 year-old inked a three-year, $30MM contract with the Bulls, though the third year is not fully guaranteed.
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Central Notes: Love, Griffin, Wood, Oladipo, Bulls

December 20th, 2019 at 3:04pm CST by Luke Adams

In a Q&A with Jason Lloyd of The Athletic, Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love acknowledged that it will probably take a while for the club to become a legit title contender again. However, he was evasive when asked if he could envision himself asking management for a trade.

“What’s going to happen with us this summer? Or at the trade deadline? I just don’t know,” Love said. “It’s just tough because, and I’m not a religious guy by any means, but the old saying ‘You want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans.’ Listen, obviously it’s a tough go right now. We’ve got (seven) wins. But in some ways, the grass isn’t always greener. You just don’t know how the s–t is going to shake out. Ever. In anything.

“So could I see it? Yes and no. It’s tough for me to answer. If we got a year or two down the line — I don’t know what their plans are for me even in the short term. But if it got there and we weren’t getting any better, it might make sense for them to completely go young. Maybe it’s that way now.”

Reports this month have indicated that Love may want to be dealt, with Portland said to be among his preferred landing spots. However, moving him won’t be easy, given his pricey long-term contract.

Here’s more from around the Central:

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