The Philadelphia 76ers remain littered with actual team needs that remain unresolved thus far, but in this case, they will greatly benefit by playing Good Samaritan to another team out West.
In one of the more surprising turn of events in free agency, longtime Warriors big man Kevon Looney finally decided to call quits on his stint in The Bay. He spent 10 seasons in Golden State and was part of two championship runs with the Dubs. Without a doubt, he was one of the most impactful role players for Steve Kerr and his crew as they marched their way into being a perennial title threat.
With Looney taking his talents to New Orleans, the Warriors are once again thin at the center position. While they play small for the most part, their weaknesses were exploited in the playoffs, and they will be best-served finding a replacement for what Looney brought to the table.
Hence, could the 76ers pique their interest with someone like Andre Drummond?
The 76ers should offer Andre Drummond to the Warriors via trade
Looney’s best trait was his rebounding and ability to set mean picks — two areas where Drummond is still good at, notwithstanding the steep decline he has had this past season.
Philadelphia should be desperate to move on from Drummond. The front office has the likes of Adem Bona and Johni Broome who both look like more worthwhile players to invest minutes in, and the former All-Star has simply become a very expendable piece for the 76ers.
Having said that, given Golden State’s unique roster construction that can cover up a lot of his mistakes, Drummond could be a more useful commodity for the Warriors. He will not be asked to compensate for so much on defense with the Dubs having a slew of great and instinctive defenders, allowing him to focus on his strengths as a board-crasher.
Sure, the Warriors are already reportedly eyeing Al Horford in free agency, but he is far from an imposing presence on the rebounding department. Neither is Quentin Post. Trayce Jackson-Davis has been much better in theory than in practice.
If Golden State wants to make another deep playoff run, they will have to cover all bases, and snagging someone like Drummond who can give them a unique advantage in spurts would be ideal. And with the 76ers also needing to open up more court time for their younger options behind Joel Embiid, a trade between both teams only makes even more sense.