Celtics Trading Gordon Hayward To Pistons For Andre Drummond?
Are the Celtics trading Gordon Hayward to the Pistons for Andre Drummond?
Boston is currently 25-11 through 36 games and sits third in the Eastern Conference.
Given the Philadelphia 76ers’ early-season woes, the Celtics appear to be a real threat to the Milwaukee Bucks’ NBA Finals aspirations.
The one thing that could hold this team back, though, is a lack of a quality center. This is a weakness everyone knew would come back to bite Boston coming into the season, and it continues to be the one glaring area of concern.
Fortunately for Danny Ainge, Detroit is in the midst of an awful year.
The Pistons are 14-25 through 39 games and preparing to rebuild. As such, Drummond is officially on the table for a potential trade.
According to Yahoo! Sports NBA insider Vincent Goodwill, Boston is one of several teams interested in acquiring Drummond.
The big issue is that the All-Star center is currently making $27.1 million and has an eight percent trade bonus in his contract. He is also under contract for $28.8 million next year, but he is expected to opt out this summer.
Woj just reaffirmed on @SportsCenter: “Boston is not willing to give up any of their core wing players”
He also described Robert Williams as a “revelation” this season: “Williams has a chance to have great staying power at that center position.”
— Chris Grenham (@chrisgrenham) December 19, 2019
If the Celtics want Drummond, the only way to get him is with Hayward and Marcus Smart.
Ainge has consistently maintained that he is not willing to give away any of Boston’s “core” wing players, but it is unclear who precisely he is talking about there.
Presumably anyone other than Jayson Tatum is on the table for the Celtics if it means improving the roster.
The NBA trade deadline is set for February 6. As that date gets closer, teams like the Celtics will likely begin engaging Detroit in more serious conversations for Drummond.
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A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
