GOOD NEWS: Boston Celtics have sign four five-star freshmen…
2-Time All-Star Floated as ‘Realistic’ Trade Option for Celtics
The Boston Celtics have the resources to acquire some frontcourt depth, and they could use it. They have choices with the $6.2 million Grant Williams trade exception. The center Andre Drummond of the Chicago Bulls is one of those choices.
CelticsBlog’s Jack Simone explained why he believes Drummond is a “realistic” option for the Celtics.
“Adding some extra big-man depth could be useful, depending on your taste for Luke Kornet (who has been entirely effective in his role this year),” Simone wrote in a story published on February 4. The Chicago Bulls are not progressing quickly, and Andre Drummond ought to be accessible. It would be worthwhile to trade two second round picks to Chicago for Drummond, yet, depending on the matchup, Kornet might still start in the rotation.
In his NBA career, Drummond has made two trips to the All-Star squad, but those days are long gone. For the previous few years, he has served as a backup center. He may not play as much as he once did, but he is still a potent rebounder. Drummond grabs 8.3 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per game.
Drummond’s contract with the Grant Williams TPE can be absorbed by the Celtics since the Bulls are paying him $3.4 million.
The Bulls are 23-27, which makes them the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference. Their season has not gone as they had planned, and that could lead to some changes. If they decide that they must make some changes, Andre Drummond has a market, per NBA Insider Marc Stein.
“Bulls center Andre Drummond continues to generate considerable interest from various playoff-bound teams looking to add a proven center to the roster,” Stein wrote in a February 4 story. “The Bulls could be moved to trade Drummond for draft capital given that he’s right there with Utah’s Kelly Olynyk – highly coveted given his experience and rebounding ability in a similar vein to Olynyk’s appeal as a floor-spacer – in terms of in-demand big men.”
Stein did not mention any other team or the Celtics as potential destinations for Drummond. The NBA Trade Deadline is quickly approaching, so Drummond’s trade market might only get hotter.
After Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, Drummond would contend for the third big man spot in the Celtics rotation if they were to acquire him.
The Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley, a Bulls insider, disclosed that the Bulls might deal Andre Drummond—but only under one condition.
According to Cowley’s piece from February 2, “the growing opinion is that the Bulls likely will make a smaller tweak to the existing lineup, possibly moving center Andre Drummond if the right deal presents itself if LaVine can’t be traded.”
Then, Cowley gave his reasoning for giving a deal including Andre Drummond a 60% possibility.
“Adding Drummond as a backup big and another body to throw at players like Joel Embiid of the 76ers or Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets in a playoff series would be a dream come true for contending teams.” The veteran center’s contract is about to expire, but he has been a fantastic rebounder for the Bulls. But don’t expect much in return; at worst, you might get a second-round pick and a young, struggling big back.