February 5 is a date that is marked on every front office's calendar throughout the league. The trade deadline presents an opportunity to strengthen a championship-contending roster or simply strip it for draft capital and begin a new era of that particular franchise. In the case of the Philadelphia 76ers, they may wish to bolster a squad that has shown glimpses of postseason potential. Given Andre Drummond's resurgence this season, he may be one of the few attractive assets that the Sixers own.
Philadelphia may have an abundance of talent on its roster, including Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, but under no uncertain terms would players of this caliber be on the trading block, considering that the 76ers are very much in playoff contention.
One player that general manager Daryl Morey could be tempted to shift if an astonishing opportunity presented itself would be Paul George. This offer is unlikely to arrive due to the sheer size of the veteran's contract. There is too much risk attached to a 35-year-old injury-prone star that holds a contract that is still worth a guaranteed $105.7 million over two years, which also has a player-option for a further year.
Essentially, this scenario is nigh on improbable, leaving few tangible solutions for Philadelphia. Unfortunately, one physical center falls under this scope.
Andre Drummond could tempt the vultures
Few fans and analysts alike could have predicted Drummond emphatically rolling back the years this campaign. Yet a string of dominant performances from both the bench and as a starter has shown that the expert rebounder still has plenty to offer a competitive roster.
Drummond has averaged 7.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game while also recording a 51.8% field-goal percentage. What makes this feat even more impressive is that these numbers have been registered in around 21 minutes per appearance. Statistics of this nature display that the 32-year-old is more than capable of being a player who can plug the bleeding during moments when a team's more prominent option sits on the bench.
Additionally, the former Chicago Bulls big man could be an attractive proposition for a team looking to perform open-heart surgery on its roster in the offseason. Drummond's five-million-dollar contract will expire at the end of the 2025-26 season, allowing them to navigate the dreaded second apron while reconstructing their squad.
In theory, this is a player the 76ers need in their ranks, mainly due to Joel Embiid's history record. Nevertheless, recent fixtures have seen head coach Nick Nurse opt for his younger counterpart, Adem Bona, highlighting that the veteran may not be as vital to the Sixers' plans as first thought. Drummond has played just six minutes in Philadelphia's previous four fixtures -- three of which ended with a DNP.
Undoubtedly, no Philadelphia 76ers supporter will want to witness Andre Drummond depart the franchise for a second time during his career. Nevertheless, the upward trajectory of performances may come with the brutal consequence of being utilised in a trade that benefits his current employers.