The Philadelphia 76ers have been far from a perfect bunch this season, but there are definitely a lot of things to like from their play so far. One positive thing at this juncture is the resurgence of Andre Drummond, who has surprised a lot of people with his solid play for the team after a down year last season.
In just 21.4 minutes per outing, the former All-Star center has turned in 7.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, and a block per outing, solidifying himself as the team’s best option at the five outside of Joel Embiid. With the former MVP missing a bunch of games, Drummond has helped the team stay afloat and competitive, playing much better than he did last season when minor injuries also shattered his rhythm on both ends.
But on an expiring contract, it is definitely interesting to see if the 76ers will hold onto Drummond, especially if some other teams tender an offer for his services. He is still an impending free agent, and as long as he keeps this level of play up, he should probably be considered a flight risk due to his desirable skill set off the bench.
The 76ers will surely want to keep Andre Drummond on the team for as long as possible
At 32 years of age, Drummond is no longer going to command a lot to retain, which makes him a perfect player to have a retainer with if you’re the 76ers. For just a fraction of the price, he brings a league-best tenacity on the boards, and while his finishing and rim protection can get pretty sus at times, it’s not like the team is depending on him a whole lot to do the extracurriculars outside of rebounding.
For those reasons, it is easy to infer that the 76ers would like to keep Drummond on the roster for as long as possible. Having him off the bench is a sheer luxury they would want to retain, and the situation in Philly is likewise ideal for the veteran big man. After all, he gets to play more minutes than normal backups due to the team resting Embiid as much as practicable.
As long as there is no price gouging involved, Drummond should be here to stay in Philly. An in-season trade involving him is unlikely as a matter of necessity, and he is very much a prominent part of the roster at this point.
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