The Philadelphia 76ers are in a weird spot. They aren’t necessarily on the same level as the top teams in the East, yet they have plenty of talent. So, as the trade deadline approaches, they could go in a number of different directions. And one of their potential moves could now be obvious.
According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required), the 76ers are willing to part ways with Andre Drummond in a trade at the deadline. The big man has played good minutes for the Sixers this season, so it’s relatively unclear why they would ship him out, and Pompey even noted that moving him could add a need for a new backup center.
Still, it sounds as though they could be willing to let him go.
76ers could trade Andre Drummond
Pompey wrote that it doesn’t seem to be a financial motivation, as the only guy who would make sense to trade from that sense would be Eric Gordon, who has only appeared in six games this year.
Drummond being a bad matchup against some East teams, notably the New York Knicks, was another question mark Pompey brought up. However, if the 76ers did want to trade him for financial reasons, Pompey believes it would be a mistake.
“Perhaps Nurse felt the Knicks, who favored a small-ball lineup, were a bad matchup for Drummond,” Pompey wrote. “But his not playing was a big omission and a conversation piece. It’s hard to imagine Sixers co-managing partner Josh Harris, who knows the window is closing, would forfeit the opportunity to finally win an NBA championship to get rid of key pieces just to save money. I wouldn’t blame Harris if he could stay under the first apron and get below the luxury-tax threshold if it was manipulated by a fringe player or someone out of the rotation. But if it were Oubre, Grimes, or Drummond, players vital to their success, it would be a bad look.”
Drummond is on a $5 million expiring deal this year, meaning the 76ers wouldn’t be able to get too much back in a potential deal for him.
However, if they did want to extend his salary slot, moving Drummond for a guy who is under contract past this season could at least make a little bit of sense.
Still, no matter the reason the 76ers have for potentially moving Drummond, knowing that they are willing to should provide some indication as to what their first trade could be this season.