Andre Drummond recently spoke about how he was excited for free agency next summer, leading some to speculate that he would like to leave the Pistons. He took to Instagram to clarify his comments.
“My point was I’m excited to go through the process because I never been [through] it, doesn’t mean I’m trying to leave Detroit. I love it here,” the big man said on his social media page.
Drummond has a player option for the 2020/21 season, though he called this upcoming campaign his “contract year,” insinuating that he’s preparing to opt out.
Here’s more from around the league:
- Marc Gasol doesn’t blame Kawhi Leonard for leaving the Raptors and joining the Clippers in a move that will put Leonard closer to his hometown. “I haven’t talked to him. Just a little through group text — that was it. You can’t blame the guy for wanting to go home. You can’t,” Gasol told Marc Stein of The New York Times in his latest newsletter. “If you tell me I can go back to Barcelona and make an absurd amount of money and play in the NBA — I understand completely the decision and respect it and wish him the best.”
- In the same piece, Gasol spoke about how he didn’t know that winning a championship would mean as much to him until after the Raptors took home the Larry O’Brien trophy. “It fulfilled me in a way that I didn’t know it could,” Gasol said. “Instantly you gain so much respect for everyone who has done this. Golden State, going to five straight finals and the rings that they have, I just instantly got so much respect for them. And LeBron going to eight finals in a row. Just doing it once put me beyond the limits I thought I had — physically and mentally. It was great to see, for myself, pushing those limits and leaving everything out there. It was awesome.”
- NBA agent James Dunleavy is joining Excel Sports Management, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Dunleavy’s clients include Chandler Parsons and Gerald Green, among others.
dre is probably gone especially if the pistons dont make a run if they aren’t in a position to contend they should really consider blowing it up at the deadline before they lose dre for nothing
It won’t be the worst result, cap-wise if Drummond leaves in free agency next summer. They could also consider dealing him at the deadline, although that would require quite a few moving parts cap-wise
Why would Excel SM want a guy who’s clients include Parsons and Green?
Well, I guess he did get Parsons that bloated contract, so…
Pistons might move him at the deadline if they are out of it or let him & Reggie walk & get cap relief. I really think they need to tear it all the way down & trade everyone over 24!
What do you do with Blake Griffin, doesn’t he have three more years at crazy money?
See what they can get for him I suppose…deal for an expiring contract and 1sts perhaps
As soon as older playrs are gone, the next thing a young team does is bring in some vets to “show the ropes”. Save the steps and keep Griffin. Although in a few years he will probably want to bolt such dreariness and join players he can win with and talk to regular.
By “win with” I am speculating on the rebuild model not the current team.
Drummond did sound like he is thinking of greener grass. Not surprising because I don’t think he gets the appreciation he might want there due to apparent lack of application (and lack of team breakthrough in general).
A winning year could change things and there is reason to believe that could happen finally. They won’t be reliant on the Reggie/Ish duo though Jackson gets more ‘recovered’ all the time.
If Rose can keep up that 37%3pt he could be paired with Bruce Brown in the backcourt covering the opposing best guard. Snell at the 3 is a 40%3pt shooter as is Kennard.
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HEY Bas.Ref. is finally posting 19/20 rosters!