After a report on Thursday morning suggested the Pistons would likely hang onto center Andre Drummond, the team ended up making a deal just hours later, sending the longtime Piston to Cleveland for a modest package that included a pair of expiring contracts and a future second-round pick. Drummond, perhaps having expected to remain in Detroit, immediately responded to the trade on Twitter.
“If there’s one thing I learned about the NBA, there’s no friends or loyalty,” Drummond tweeted. “I’ve given my heart and soul to the Pistons , and to have this happen with no heads-up makes me realize even more that this is just a business!”
Speaking today to reporters about the deal, head of basketball operations Ed Stefanski said that Drummond and his representatives knew he was being discussed in trade talks, but acknowledged that the Cavs emerged as an option at the 11th hour, pretty close to the deadline.
“The worst thing in the world is have to trade someone who’s been here (for a long time),” Stefanski said, per Rod Beard of The Detroit News. “This is the only place he’s been in. Emotions are raw. ‘Dre knew he was in trade talks and I was talking to his representatives about different things. Cleveland came in late. I guess you’d have to talk to ‘Dre what exactly he meant. But again, emotions are raw when this stuff happens. I understand that.”
While many NBA observers were surprised at how little the Pistons received for Drummond, Stefanski suggested there weren’t stronger offers out there, pointing out that the center position isn’t valued “like it once was” (Twitter links via James Edwards III of The Athletic).
Here’s more on the Pistons:
- Strong offers didn’t really materialize for Derrick Rose, according to Vince Ellis of The Detroit Free Press, who tweets that potential suitors may have been scared off by Detroit’s high asking price and Rose’s desire to stick with the Pistons.
- Langston Galloway and Markieff Morris, who are both on expiring contracts, didn’t generate much serious interest around the NBA, sources tell James Edwards III of The Athletic. Stefanski suggested today that Detroit probably couldn’t have gotten more than a draft pick in the 50s for those players, Edwards tweets. The Pistons preferred to finish the year with their veterans.
- Edwards, who reported on Thursday that the Pistons turned down a Celtics offer for Christian Wood, notes that Wood has interest in re-signing with Detroit this summer.
- The Pistons started talking in earnest about a rebuild after injuries derailed their playoff chances this season, since the team doesn’t want to be stuck in the middle of the pack anymore, per Stefanski (Twitter links via Edwards). “We are looking to rebuild,” Stefanski said. “What the future holds will be interesting. We haven’t had the luxury of having cap space since we’ve been here — do you use it in free agency, collecting assets or making trades? We have to use it wisely.”
- Stefanski declined to specifically address the rumored Luke Kennard trade talks, but said the young shooting guard is “well-liked by other NBA teams.” The Pistons are happy to keep Kennard and make him part of their rebuild, according to Stefanski, who adds that the 23-year-old may be ready to return from his knee injury after the All-Star break (all Twitter links via Edwards).
- The Pistons haven’t discussed a potential buyout for Reggie Jackson, according to Stefanski (Twitter link via Beard).
Poor Drummond didn’t get notified of his trade. He played his heart and soul out for Detroit
Drummond is a class act… Detroit, not so much.
The guy has given always his best for them.
He did though. To quote the Stefanski: “I always feel you should get to the player and the agent first, which is almost impossible in today’s age, but we did that (Thursday). We didn’t wait at all. Our first thought when we decided to make the move was that we would get to Andre and his agent ASAP and that’s what we did, so that no one could tweet it out or announce it without the two people knowing about it and I thought we handled it well on our end.”
We’ve been dealing with Drummond’s poor entitled attitude for years in Detroit. He’s been benched at times this year for inconsistent work ethic. Frankly I’m sick of his antics, and am happy the Pistons are finally moving on.
He’s an all-time great rebounder, but one of the laziest NBA players I’ve ever seen. He spent 5 years as the worst free throw shooter of all time, and I actually came to believe that it was physically impossible for him to improve at it. Then he finally spent an off-season working at it and now he shoots almost double what he used to. So why did it take him so long to put in the effort to improve?
It’s just hard to watch him waste his talent and merely be a pretty good player because of a lack of heart He’s the exact opposite of what every good Detroit Pistons team has ever stood for.
If you have Wood and people want the youth on the court, and DoomToYa is not ready, then you can let Drummond go.
Cry . My butt hurts. I was traded. Tells everyone he will opt out. Now he will opt in. Crys more about loyalty. What a joke.