The Philadelphia 76ers seem to be inching closer to finally pulling off a trade they have been desperately trying to pull off for quite some time now. Even better, they did not even have to do anything to invite that possibility.
It is no secret that the 76ers have been doing their earnest to find a taker for veteran big man Andre Drummond, who will be returning to the team next season after he picked up his player option to return this summer. Previously, Philly’s brass moved heaven and earth just to shed his contract to make room for Guerschon Yabusele, but now, they are probably doing the same to give some more money to Quentin Grimes, who remains unsigned.
However, there were serious doubts about the front office’s capability to find an interested team that could end up being a landing spot for Drummond. After all, he showed real signs of a steep decline last season as his finishing above the basket and rim protection basically dropped as hard as they could.
But now, rumors point to the 76ers finally having a potential destination for the former All-Star which, of course, is music to the ears of the front office.
The 76ers are rumored to have a new trade destination for Andre Drummond
According to recent reports, the Nets are primed to be a landing spot for Drummond, who is most definitely being actively shopped right now in talks.
Brooklyn, which is currently on a youth movement after failing to artificially construct a contender, does not make a lot of sense for Drummond, but this is probably just the Nets trying to exact assets in return for taking in salaries. The 76ers would probably have to part with, say, a second-rounder to shed Drummond’s deal, but that would still be acceptable for both teams.
Philadelphia does not really have a pressing need for Drummond anymore. With Adem Bona set to succeed him in his role from last season and rookie big man Johni Broome also looking poised to be a wildcard to get real minutes in his freshman year, the veteran has become pretty expendable.
Moving Drummond would allow the front office to perhaps offer more palatable terms from Grimes’ camp, which would finally put a governor on both parties’ tiresome free agency deadlock.
For the Philadelphia 76ers, this is ultimately a chance for the front office to get some more flexibility while also opening up more minutes for their younger commodities on the roster.