5 free agency destinations for Andre Drummond
By John Buhler
Andre Drummond is in the midst of his best year as an NBA player. When he hits free agency this summer, these NBA five teams need to consider pursuing him.
At only 22 years of age, Detroit Pistons All-Star center Andre Drummond is now entering his prime as an NBA player. Under the tutelage of head coach Stan Van Gundy, Drummond has become a double-double machine for the 2015-16 Pistons, averaging 16.7 points per game and an league-leading 15.0 rebounds per game.
Though Drummond’s offensive game is still unrefined and his free throw shooting is simply horrific (52.0% at the line), he has emerged in 2015-16 as probably the best traditional center in the Eastern Conference. Detroit made a wise decision to draft the one-and-done player out of UConn in 2012 at No. 9.
While it would make great sense for continuity sake for Drummond to remain with Detroit and continue to thrive under Van Gundy, he may look for a bigger pay day as one of the preeminent big men in the game.
Though the Pistons can offer Drummond more money and an extra year because they have his Bird Rights, perhaps Drummond wants to play for a franchise he knows can get to the NBA Playoffs annually. The Pistons currently have the longest playoff drought in the Eastern Conference, going on six years.
Expect Van Gundy to break the bank to try and keep Drummond in Motown for the foreseeable future as the main building block for the Pistons turnaround. However, when Drummond does hit free agency this summer, anticipate these five teams to be on the short list of acquiring his services in 2016-17.
Next: 5. Boston Celtics