Aside from their notable standstill with restricted free agent Quentin Grimes, the Philadelphia 76ers have the disposition of a ball club that seees content riding its current roster even with training camp still a couple of months away. For better or for worse, this team will look relatively the same as it did last season barring anything preternatural from here on out.
In that respect, the front office and the fanbase do not see eye to eye. While the 76ers brass apparently believes in the raw talent of this squad elevating them enough in the Eastern Conference race even with just a little more help in the health department, fans have grown tired of the team’s refusal to heed to calls to get younger and fresher legs, which doomed them in recent years.
While not as ineffectual as, say, Kyle Lowry or Eric Gordon, Andre Drummond was another player who saw a steep decline in production last season. Initially billed as an ideal backup to Joel Embiid and a spot starter at center, the former All-Star’s finishing above the basket and rim production became marginal, signaling that the 76ers should seek a younger option to man his role.
Unfortunately, a recent development effectively forecloses any viable opportunity for the 76ers to move on from him through a trade.
76ers get stuck with Andre Drummond as the Warriors near deal with Al Horford
Looking around the league, the only feasible destination left for Drummond is Golden State, but that is no extremely unlikely with the Warriors still poised to sign Al Horford in free agency. Now, there is some hold-up on that end due to the Jonathan Kuminga situation, but that partnership is all but inevitable at this juncture.
The moment that move becomes official, the 76ers will be deprived of a strong opportunity to dump Drummond’s expiring contract. Golden State was one of the few teams in dire need of a tenured big man, especially with the exodus of longtime key player Kevon Looney, and Horford’s impending arrival will definitely arm them with an even better solution than, say, moving the needle for Drummond.
The Philadelphia 76ers still have time to move Drummond and pave the way for more court time to higher-ceiling players like Adem Bona and Johni Broome, but at this juncture, it would be a trek for the front office to find a willing taker for the veteran center.
Oh, and it also bears noting that the culprit is a former Sixer. Still a thorn on their side, so it seems.