LOS ANGELES — The 2019-20 Los Angeles Clippers (29-13) have yet to live up to expectations. How concerned should the team's front office be with the NBA's February 6 trade deadline just a few weeks away?

The Clippers have serious championship aspirations after a blockbuster summer that brought in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, but the All-Star duo has only played in 18 games together. They have a 14-4 record over that span, but the team just hasn't hit a good, consistent stride, winning just nine of its last 15 contests.

While they've beaten the first-place Los Angeles Lakers (33-8) twice—once without George in the season opener—the Clippers have fallen behind the Denver Nuggets (29-12) and are just a half-game ahead of the Utah Jazz (28-13). If L.A. doesn't improve, a playoff run may need to go through three of the Houston Rockets (26-14), Nuggets, Jazz and Lakers, followed by an NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks (37-6).

Do the Clippers just need to get healthy, make moves around the edges and peak at the right time? Or do they have bigger flaws that should be addressed by the deadline, with centers Andre Drummond and Steven Adams potentially available? Could the Clippers even do the unthinkable and bring back Chris Paul? 

The NBA community is conflicted on what path the Clippers should take moving forward.

"They just haven't had their guys. George and Pat [Beverley] have been hurt, Kawhi has his load management," said one Eastern Conference executive. "We've seen what they can do at full strength against the Lakers on Christmas."

"I don't think they need wholesale change," one former executive said. "They're not as good defensively as they'd like to be, with Montrezl [Harrell] and Lou [Williams], but they're going to be able outscore almost anyone."

But others see flaws, notably with Harrell, who will be a free agent this summer.

"Harrell is a disaster if they have to play the Nuggets in the playoffs. Their best bet is Ivica Zubac, but he can't get out to Nikola Jokic on the perimeter," said another former executive. "Is Montrezl big enough to play against the Lakers and the Jazz?"

"They need another playmaker. Patrick Beverley isn't a point guard. They're too reliant on Lou, Kawhi and George to create for others. They go on long scoring droughts. They need more size, and they're not getting a lot out of their bench outside of Lou and Trez," said a Western Conference executive. "They may be able to beat the Lakers in a series, but will they get that far?"

The guard issue could be solved if free agent Darren Collison chooses to join the Clippers. He's expected to make his decision after the trade deadline.

The bigger issue is the team's size and the upcoming decision on Harrell this summer.

If the Clippers don't believe they can win with a 6'7" center, especially one hoping for what is believed to be a $20 million-per-season payday, then they risk losing Harrell as a free agent. (Multiple executives believe the Atlanta Hawks could be a summer destination.) Los Angeles would have his rights and the ability to sign-and-trade him to another team, but that's a move entirely dependent on Harrell's participation.

Moving him proactively for a more traditional fit may be the answer. The Clippers are 11-2 when Zubac plays at least 20 minutes, but the Clippers have only played Zubac and Harrell together for a grand total of three minutes all season.

"They take up the same space on the court. The Clippers simply don't play them together," the Eastern Conference executive said. "Montrezl is getting 29 minutes a game, so even if the Clippers added on another center, where would those minutes come? They would need a floor-spacer."

In part, that's why the Clippers have had their eye on Aron Baynes of the Phoenix Suns (17-24), though they are still looking to make a playoff push, just two games behind the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies (20-22). Baynes is a strong, experienced defender who can space the floor. Giving up Zubac for Baynes could make sense if the Clippers reinvest in Harrell, but would the Suns have any interest in Zubac's four-year, $28.5 million deal as a backup for Deandre Ayton?

“Marcus Morris would solve a lot of their problems. He can shoot and is tough enough to play center,” the first former executive said of the New York Knicks forward, earning $15 million on a one-year deal.

The Clippers could send out Mo Harkless and perhaps second-year guard Jerome Robinson to match salary, although it’s unclear what the Knicks would be looking for in return.

"What about Dewayne Dedmon [with the Sacramento Kings], he's available?" asked the second former executive. "He was kind of a floor-spacer one of those years."

Dedmon shot 38.2 percent from three-point range through the 2018-19 season with the Atlanta Hawks, but he's hitting a paltry 21.4 percent in Sacramento. The 30-year-old veteran is in the first year of his three-year, $40 million contract (the final season is only $1 million guaranteed).

Harkless alone (in the last year of his deal at $11 million) is enough to match salaries, helping the Kings get Dedmon's contract off their books. But then, if Dedmon’s outside shot doesn't return, he's an expensive $13 million a year player who may not play over Harrell or Zubac.

Another possibility for Harkless and considerations, one NBA source suggested, could be Thaddeus Young of the Chicago Bulls, who has $34.6 million of his $40.6 million guaranteed through the 2021-22 season.

"They could go after Drummond, but if they're sending out Zubac, Harkless and filler [like Rodney McGruder], they still have the issue that they're not going to play Drummond with Harrell," the Eastern Conference executive said.

The Clippers sent most of their future first-rounders to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the deal for George, but they can send their pick in June's draft (likely in the Nos. 22-28 range). It's also worth noting that the Detroit Pistons are extremely close to the NBA's $132.6 million luxury tax threshold; the front office has been directed to not go over under any circumstances, per someone familiar with the team's dynamic.

"Drummond has a lot of bad habits he needs to unlearn," said the second former executive, citing a lack of postseason experience. "The Clippers would have to be really confident he's the right fit, because they're going to need to pay him more than Harrell in July."

That compounds the issue. If the Clippers are debating the right figure that makes Harrell a good investment, are they ready to simultaneously have that discussion on Drummond?

Instead, the Clippers could try to make Zubac a reserve and offer Harrell to Detroit. If he's the primary compensation, instead of a draft pick, the Pistons would need to have some assurances that Harrell is willing to re-sign (which they may not be able to get by the deadline).

What if, instead, the Clippers turned their attention to the Thunder and Adams?

"That makes a lot more sense," the second former executive agreed. "He's everything the Clippers would need for the playoffs. If the Thunder got Harrell, they'd still be competitive."

The Thunder went into the season open-minded about their future after acquiring Chris Paul from the Rockets and Danilo Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the Clippers. They're still interested in hearing what teams are willing to offer before the trade deadline, but their 23-19 record should be enough to carry them into the playoffs, a stunning accomplishment after trading away Russell Westbrook and George.

Adams is at $25.8 million for the current season with another year at $27.5 million. The Clippers could get to the necessary $20.6 million in outgoing salary with Harrell, Harkless and either JaMychal Green or McGruder. Green can block any trade because of the NBA's one-year Bird rule.

The Clippers already have a strong working relationship with the Thunder. L.A. general manager Michael Winger previously worked in Oklahoma City under top executive Sam Presti, which was a significant factor in why the talks surrounding the George trade were kept so successfully under the radar.

An Adams/Zubac rotation would give the Clippers formidable size against their prospective postseason opponents. They'd lose Harrell's scoring but improve defensively. If Green remains, he could get time as the team’s small-ball center.

"Harrell is too dependent on Lou to create his offense. Without Lou, Montrezl is just OK," the Eastern Conference executive said.

Both Leonard and George can opt out of their contracts after the 2020-21 season. Adams’ salary lines up perfectly. The Clippers wouldn't have to over-invest in Harrell (or Drummond) if they had Adams locked in for another season.

Or maybe the Clippers are willing to pay Harrell long-term. If so, then they may just pick up a small trade or a free-agent reserve big on the buyout market.

Instead, perhaps they should look to upgrade the backcourt, where they don't have a true point guard.

"Beverley is a small forward," the executive continued. "Collison would help, but if he doesn't pick the Clippers, they need another guard."

With Dwight Howard successfully reunited with the Lakers, what about Chris Paul?

"That's a lot of salary to match, the Clippers would have to include Beverley, and the Thunder fans aren't going to want that," he said, referring to the incident when Westbrook suffered a season-ending injury after colliding with Beverley in the 2013 playoffs.

The Clippers could get most of the way to Paul's $38.5 million with Beverley and Harkless. At a minimum, they'd need to include a couple more players, such as Jerome Robinson and McGruder. The Thunder might have interest in Harrell or Zubac, but as noted, the Clippers need to add inside, not subtract.

Stranger things have happened. A core of Paul, George and Leonard would be tremendous both offensively and defensively. Paul would be a bold move. Do the Clippers want to pay a 34-year-old guard—one they have a history with—given the $85.6 million he's due for the next two seasons. He has a player option on the final year, but is there any scenario in which Paul opts out of his $44.2 million salary for 2021-22?

"The Clippers would trade anyone outside of Kawhi and [George] if it made sense, but you can say that about building around the top stars on any contender," the Eastern Conference executive said. "But Beverley is a part of the Clippers' identity. I couldn't see them trading him."

And the Thunder probably wouldn't take him, so then L.A. would have to rope in another team.

"I don't see it," said one of the former executives. "I think the big decision is about Harrell, but I'd keep him. The Clippers are really good when they're healthy. Every team has flaws, but who is going to be able to stop their top four guys from scoring?"

The Harrell situation will need to be addressed eventually, but the Clippers may need to see what he looks like in the postseason with Leonard and George before they reach clarity.

A smaller move could be the answer, both at guard and reserve center, but a move for Adams may hold some appeal.

"It's interesting," one Western Conference executive said, "I don't know if I would do it.”

Three weeks until the deadline...

                

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, @EricPincus.

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Jose Calderon, 14-year NBA veteran and special assistant to the executive director of National Basketball Players Association, joins The Full 48 to discuss his career on and off the court, playing alongside greats, in the Olympic Games, and his role at the NBPA.

 

The New York Knicks reportedly have "no interest" in a deal for Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond ahead of the 2020 NBA trade deadline on Feb. 6.

Marc Berman of the New York Post provided the update Friday after SNY's Ian Begley reported last week the Knicks made an effort to "touch base" with the Pistons about Drummond.

It doesn't make sense for New York, or any other non-contender, to target the two-time All-Star given his contract situation.

Drummond is in the final guaranteed season of a five-year, $127.2 million contract, which includes a $27.1 million cap hit for the 2019-20 campaign. He holds a player option for next season with a $28.8 million base salary but is expected to opt out and test free agency, per Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes.

The 26-year-old UConn product will be one of the top players available on the open market, which is projected to feature far less star power than the 2019 free-agent class. So it makes sense for him to at least survey what type of offers are sent his way.

In turn, the talent-starved Knicks, whose playoff hopes are already near extinction with an 11-31 record, can't afford to give up cherished assets without some type of guarantee he'd remain with the organization beyond the end of the regular season in April.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5DW9c5Vg8M

For his part, Drummond said in early January he wanted to remain with the Pistons for the long haul.

"I'm not a quitter, for one," he told reporters. "I was never brought up to be a quitter. If I start somewhere, I try to finish there, try to complete the mission, which is to win a championship here. It will never be me that wants to go anywhere ... I love being here. I would love to play here the rest of my career."

The Knicks will likely emerge as an interested suitor over the summer as they seek more high-end talent to surround a developing core led by rookie RJ Barrett. New York is also on pace to land another top-five draft pick, which would help the rebuilding process.

Barrett, Drummond and a guard prospect like Anthony Edwards or LaMelo Ball could finally put the Knicks back on the road toward contention in the Eastern Conference.

Any type of Drummond acquisition must have a long-term payoff, however, and it doesn't sound like making a trade for him before next month's deadline would come with that guarantee.

After completing a trade to solidify their backcourt depth, the Atlanta Hawks are reportedly not looking to acquire Andre Drummond.

Per Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes, the Hawks are "no longer engaging" in trade talks with the Detroit Pistons about the two-time All-Star. 

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Atlanta agreed to acquire Jeff Teague and Treveon Graham from the Minnesota Timberwolves for Allen Crabbe. 

The Hawks have been heavily linked to Drummond in recent weeks as they tried to build out the roster around Trae Young. 

Per The Athletic's Sam Amick, the Hawks could have gotten a deal done for Drummond if they offered the Pistons a first-round draft pick. 

James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reported Atlanta's initial offer to the Pistons only included players on expiring contracts. 

Last month, with the Hawks in the midst of a 2-11 stretch, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Young was involved in an "emotional locker room scene" and one high-ranking team official told the young point guard they would get "him some help on the roster" in the wake of a 130-118 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Dec. 4. 

Haynes noted the Hawks intend to remain patient and could opt to wait to make roster upgrades during the offseason through the draft and free agency. 

The Hawks own the worst record in the Eastern Conference (9-32) and could end up with a high pick in the 2020 draft that can be used to either add another promising young player to potentially package it in a deal to acquire an established veteran. 

Drummond can become a free agent this summer if he opts out of his deal. The 26-year-old is averaging 17.3 points and an NBA-best 15.7 rebounds per game this season for the Pistons. 

Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond has been the subject of numerous trade rumors, and another one appeared Monday.

James L. Edwards III of The Athletic wrote the Atlanta Hawks, who have been connected to the big man in advance of the Feb. 6 trade deadline, started speaking with the Pistons about Drummond "around Christmas."

Sam Amick of The Athletic wrote the Hawks and Pistons would have gotten a deal done if Atlanta threw in a first-round draft pick. However, Edwards wrote that "teams aren't offering first-round picks right now" in a potential Drummond deal.

Drummond is averaging 17.6 points and an NBA-leading 15.9 rebounds per game for a 14-26 Pistons team whose season is rapidly slipping away. Detroit is 3-11 in its last 14 matchups and 4.5 games behind the Orlando Magic for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Furthermore, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported Jan. 7 there is "no timetable" for a return on six-time All-Star power forward Blake Griffin, who is out with a left knee injury and just had a "successful arthroscopic debridement."

The team's current state—plus Drummond's looming free agency should he decline his 2020-21 player option—makes him a clear trade target. However, there's reason to believe he won't land in Atlanta.

First, Ian Begley of SNY.tv reported the Hawks may be looking at another big man instead.

"Several teams in touch with the Hawks recently came away with the impression that the club prioritizes trading for Oklahoma City's Steven Adams over Drummond," Begley wrote.

Second, the New York Knicks are reportedly in the mix, with Begley noting the team's "recent conversations with Detroit about Drummond were more than just exploratory talks."

Regardless, Drummond would be a great fit on a Hawks team that desperately needs rebounding help. Atlanta's minus-10.0 rebounding differential is the NBA's worst mark.

The big man wouldn't be a panacea for all that ails the 8-32 Hawks, but acquiring him would be a good start if the Hawks and Pistons can agree on a package for the two-time All-Star's services.

The Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks have reportedly held trade discussions focused on All-Star center Andre Drummond.

According to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press, there have been talks regarding the Pistons sending Drummond and another player to New York in exchange for power forward Julius Randle and guard Frank Ntilikina.

However, Ellis noted the Pistons initiated those talks and that a source familiar with the Knicks' thinking noted "there's nothing there."

Parting with Drummond for a package that does not include a first-round pick may not be ideal for a team that could use a roster reset, but Randle and Ntilikina are both talented players who could thrive in a new environment.

Randle has been one of the Knicks' few bright spots this season with averages of 18.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game after averaging a career-high 21.4 points per game last season with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Ntilikina was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft, but he has not lived up to expectations thus far. He has started a career-high 24 games so far this season and is averaging 6.2 points, 3.2 assists and 2.2 rebounds but isn't performing to the level of a top-10 pick.

While Ntilikina could be a bust, he may also be a victim of the mess in New York and could break out if given an opportunity elsewhere.

The 25-year-old Randle is signed for two more seasons beyond this year and the 21-year-old Ntilikina is signed for one more year before becoming a restricted free agent.

Drummond is one of the NBA's top centers with averages of 17.8 points and 16.2 rebounds per game to his credit this season, plus two All-Star nods and three rebounding titles on his resume, but he can become a free agent this offseason if he opts out.

Trading Drummond for two players under contract would at least give the Pistons more time to build around forward Blake Griffin, provided he is part of their long-term plan.

Drummond is the type of dominant interior presence the Knicks need, but trading for him without the assurance of him opting in for next season or signing a contract extension would be a risk. It may be one worth taking if it doesn't cost any draft picks, however.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported last week that Detroit has spoken with the Atlanta Hawks about a deal that would net the Pistons the Brooklyn Nets' 2020 first-round pick, although Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that the deal would be done if the Hawks would include that pick.

Atlanta's apparent unwillingness to include the pick may be a sign that teams are wary about parting with draft picks for a player who could leave in a few months.

If it turns out that no quality draft picks are there for the taking, then the Knicks' offer of two young, talented assets may be Detroit's best bet.

The 10-28 New York Knicks sit second-last in the Eastern Conference heading into their Friday matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans but may be considering making moves to improve ahead of February's trade deadline. 

Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic reported that New York has inquired with the Detroit Pistons about center Andre Drummond:

"One team, I'm told, that has made an inquiry (on Andre Drummond) are the Knicks."

NBA Insider @ShamsCharania shares an update on the Pistons center. pic.twitter.com/xH3XB6VHtN

— Stadium (@Stadium) January 10, 2020

"One team, I'm told, that has made an inquiry [on Drummond] are the Knicks," Charania said.

"And the Knicks have seven draft picks over the next two years, including three first-rounders. They're in no rush to get off any of those draft picks, including those first-round picks. That's why there hasn't been any traction or any imminency to those conversations."

Charania noted the Pistons "aren't looking to take back long-term salary," which would seemingly rule out Knicks forward Julius Randle and his three-year deal heading to Detroit.

He also said the Knicks want to retain Marcus Morris after his one-year, $15 million contract expires after the year.

Ian Begley of SNY.tv reported Friday that the Pistons also have interest in point guard Dennis Smith Jr.

Worth noting on Pistons front: some with Detroit are fans of Knicks PG Dennis Smith Jr.: https://t.co/gQjdR5RDad

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) January 11, 2020

A Knicks trade for Drummond is puzzling at first glance. For one, he's a free agent in the summer provided he declines his 2020-21 player option, and the Knicks could hypothetically sign him then without giving up assets.

It isn't as if the Knicks are close to contending for the playoffs let alone a championship after winning just 10 games so far, so acquiring Drummond now likely won't save the team's season.

Drummond does score and rebound with ease, averaging 17.8 points and an NBA-leading 16.2 boards per game. He's paced the Association rebounding in three of his past four full seasons.

However, the big man isn't a great fit for a Knicks team in desperate need of more shooters from everywhere on the court. New York is 26th in field-goal percentage and 23rd in three-point percentage entering Friday.

The Knicks do have the third-worst rebounding differential in the league, but they also have a young and promising big man in Mitchell Robinson.

The 21-year-old has scored 10.1 points on 70.9 percent shooting and grabbed 6.9 rebounds in just 22.7 minutes on average. He's also under team control through the 2021-22 season provided the Knicks retain him over the next two years.

Robinson's deal is also cheap, as his highest salary would top out at $1.8 million should New York grab the 2021-22 team option.

The Knicks' best bet may be to let Robinson develop and see if he's worth a long-term investment from 2022 onward.

As Charania noted, the Pistons would want "young players or draft picks" in any trade. Robinson is arguably the team's best young asset outside RJ Barrett, who is presumably untouchable after going third overall in the 2019 NBA draft.

However, the Knicks would be better off retraining Robinson rather than potentially trading him and other resources for Drummond.

The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly aware of what it will take to acquire center Andre Drummond from the Detroit Pistons.

According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Hawks "could have landed Drummond already if they were willing to include a first-round pick in the deal." Amick noted the deal was unlikely to happen, however.

The Hawks are unlikely to include their own 2020 first-round pick since they have the NBA's worst record at 8-30, but they will land the Brooklyn Nets' 2020 first-rounder if the Nets make the playoffs, which is likely since they are currently three games up on the Charlotte Hornets for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported last week that the Hawks are one of several teams the Pistons have spoken to about Drummond. He added that the Nets' 2020 first-rounder and expiring contracts have been discussed as part of a potential deal as well.

Per Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks and Toronto Raptors have shown interest in Drummond as well. Amick noted that the Celtics and Mavs are two contending teams known to be in the market for a big man.

The Hawks are in a difficult spot with regard to Drummond since trading for him could be an all-or-nothing venture. Drummond can become a free agent at the end of the season if he declines his player option for 2020-21, meaning any team that acquires him may only get him for the remainder of this season.

That wouldn't do Atlanta any good since it is already out of playoff contention. If it can get an assurance that Drummond will either opt in or sign an extension, however, he could be precisely what the Hawks need to get back on track.

Drummond is averaging career highs this season with 17.8 points and 16.2 rebounds, which has him on track to be named to the All-Star team for the third time in his career. He is also trending toward leading the NBA in rebounding for the fourth consecutive year and fifth time overall.

Atlanta is lacking a dominant interior presence, and Drummond's skill set would likely mesh well with second-year guard Trae Young, who is likely to be named an All-Star for the first time this year.

Young is averaging 29.2 points and 8.5 assists per game, plus forward John Collins is averaging 17.9 points and 9.7 rebounds, and rookie wing De'Andre Hunter and second-year guard Kevin Huerter are showing the potential to be complementary pieces as well.

If the Hawks can add Drummond and a top pick in the 2020 NBA draft to that core, then they should be able to become playoff contenders in the near future, considering how weak the Eastern Conference is beyond the top six teams.

Detroit is 3.5 games out of a playoff spot and playing without injured star forward Blake Griffin, and if it is unable or unwilling to re-sign Drummond, it has every reason to trade him for assets that can aid in the rebuilding of the roster moving forward.

LOS ANGELES — If NBA franchises spend the first few months of the season getting a feel for where they stand in Act I, we're currently in Act II as teams reach out to see what's available on the trade market. They're negotiating, but rarely to a deal.

Too many clubs remain close enough to a playoff berth that the true buyers and sellers are unclear. The Memphis Grizzlies (16-22) were supposed to be a postseason afterthought, but Ja Morant (presumptive Rookie of the Year) has his squad in ninth place in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, only six teams in the East have winning records.

Still, the deadline creeps closer and closer, and the denouement will come in Act III on Feb. 6. Decisions that have yet to be made will need to come before long, and inklings of what might take place have begun to leak.

While the Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers recently swapped point guards (Dante Exum for Jordan Clarkson), most trades don't go through until right before the deadline. For now, teams are posturing and poking around to see how to best improve—unreasonably so.

"Everybody is always searching for picks," one Western Conference executive said. "The asking price for anyone right now is too high."

If Act II starts out with high expectations, Act III crescendos with teams rushing to get the best possible deal done.

             

Boston: Is It Gordon Hayward or Marcus Smart?

The Boston Celtics (25-10) are one of the top teams in the league, but in December, one executive acknowledged they face a size gap, especially when matched up against the Milwaukee Bucks (33-6), Philadelphia 76ers (24-14) and, ideally (to Boston), the Los Angeles Lakers (30-7).

Earlier in the month, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Detroit Pistons were shopping Andre Drummond. Soon after, Yahoo Sports' Vincent Goodwill added the Celtics were one of the teams with interest in the All-Star center:

Boston, Dallas, Toronto have also registered interest in Andre Drummond, according to sources. Drummond has relationships with Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Lowry

— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) January 3, 2020

While Danilo Gallinari of the Oklahoma City Thunder isn't a power player, he's a legitimate scorer at 6'10", and he's another guy Boston has monitored, per an NBA source.

It's unclear if the Celtics are going to trigger a deal, but Drummond and Gallinari are not inexpensive players, and Boston isn't likely to afford both when landing one will take significant outgoing salary. Drummond is earning $27.1 million this season and has an 8 percent trade bonus in his contract (which he can waive). While he is technically under contract next season at $28.8 million, he's widely expected to opt out of his deal to either re-sign with the Pistons or explore free agency.

Gallinari is being pursued by several teams, including the Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors. He's in the final year of his contract at $22.6 million, and Boston would need to send out at least $17.6 million to match Gallinari's salary. The C's would need to trade out at least $21.6 million to land Drummond.

That's not easy, especially if you believe they're not willing to trade Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown or Kemba Walker.

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

But what about Gordon Hayward and Marcus Smart?

Boston can't get to the Gallinari number with its next four highest-paid players combined (Daniel Theis, Enes Kanter, Romeo Langford and Vincent Poirier). And Drummond? Not anywhere in the ballpark.

Hayward could work for either one, though the Pistons have an internal mandate not to go over the luxury-tax line, and they're too close to absorb the difference between Drummond and Hayward's $32.8 million contract. Like Drummond, Hayward can also opt out before the 2020-21 season.

Boston would have to include other considerations—draft pick(s) and/or young players—and Detroit would need to include someone else on its roster to stay under the tax. Would it be Derrick Rose?

Rose, formerly represented by Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem, isn't likely to be moved unless he specifically requested a trade internally. To date, there's no sense Rose is looking to make a change, despite the Pistons losing Blake Griffin (knee) for what could be the season.

A deal for Drummond built around Smart's $12.1 million salary this season wouldn't be easy for Boston. The Celtics would need to add another $10 million in salary, which would probably have to start with either Theis or Kanter (along with other young players).

For the Thunder, Hayward could be problematic financially, given he earns over $10 million more than Gallinari. They will be paying repeater taxes this season if they can't get below the $132.6 million luxury-tax line, and they're unlikely to take on Hayward without including an injured Andre Roberson (knee).

Smart (and other player(s) earning just over $5 million) for Gallinari is easier to fashion, but do the Thunder want to invest long term in another guard when they already have Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dennis Schroder?

The Celtics are media-savvy—they're likely to downplay any potential moves to protect their players—but looking at the math along with the Drummond and Gallinari buzz, Hayward appears to be the bait if Boston does make that type of move.

            

Pacers May Have a Guard Available

With Victor Oladipo ready to make a return near the end of the month and Malcolm Brogdon one of the offseason's greatest acquisitions, more than one competing executive believes the Indiana Pacers will put one of their two backup point guards on the market: TJ McConnell or Aaron Holiday.

Both are regulars in the rotation, playing 23.8 (Holiday) and 18.8 (McConnell) minutes per game, but with Oladipo in the lineup, that depth may be a luxury. McConnell is under contract for this season and next at $3.5 million each, although next year's salary is only $1 million guaranteed. Holiday is in the second year of his rookie-scale contract at $2.2 million.

             

Buzz on Davis Bertans, Teams Seeking to Shed Salary

• Several teams would like Davis Bertans, but the Washington Wizards are very fond of him—not just as a shooter but as a veteran and even as a defender.
• Teams to keep a close eye on at the deadline include the New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks and Thunder.
• The Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors and Thunder are all in the tax, and history shows teams will do what they can to get under via trade. The Rockets may be able to get under with Nene missing out on his contract incentives.
• Other teams say Miami would like to get under by moving Dion Waiters and James Johnson, but neither is a desirable acquisition.             

           

Lakers Called the Kings, or the Kings Called the Lakers?

The recent Kyle Kuzma-for-Bogdan Bogdanovic rumor is a stark example of conflicting information hitting the media. Hall of Famer Marc Stein of the New York Times tweeted:

Sacramento is among the teams that has tried to engage the Lakers in Kyle Kuzma trade talks, league sources say. The Kings know they would have to include sharpshooter (and soon-to-be restricted free agent) Bogdan Bogdanovic, for starters, in a Kuzma deal

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 6, 2020

Meanwhile, another excellent journalist, Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times, soon after wrote, "Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka initiated a call with Sacramento to gauge the Kings' interest in Kuzma."

While those statements are not mutually exclusive, Stein's report suggests the Kings are the aggressors, while Ganguli's intimates it's the Lakers.

Which slant is more accurate? That's an important question with the deadline less than a month away.

               

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com, and follow him on Twitter, @EricPincus.

As the Detroit Pistons shop Andre Drummond around the NBA, the New York Times' Marc Stein spoke to a source who "expressed confidence" the star center will be moved before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

Drummond can opt out his contract this summer and become an unrestricted free agent. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday the Pistons were "escalating discussions" with teams interested in acquiring the 26-year-old.

Wojnarowski added the Atlanta Hawks had thrown around a possible trade package that included the Brooklyn Nets' 2020 first-round pick and expiring contracts to make the salary numbers work.

Since Andre Drummond came into the league:

- Most rebounds
- Most offensive rebounds
- Most games with 20+ rebounds (77)
- Most 20/20 games (37)
- Most double-doubles

Rebounding machine + three-point machine in ATL? pic.twitter.com/0UabvZFQCf

— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 3, 2020

Dealing Drummond would make sense for Detroit. He's averaging 17.4 points and a league-high 15.9 rebounds, which will almost certainly earn him his third trip to the All-Star Game.

The Pistons are 13-24 and 11th in the Eastern Conference, and a surge up the standings in the coming weeks is unlikely. The team announced Blake Griffin underwent knee surgery and is out indefinitely.

The 2012 first-round pick out of UConn brings a level of consistency and durability—eight missed games over the previous six seasons combined—that make him an attractive asset for a team with playoff ambitions.

His contract and positional limitations could hinder the Pistons' return in a trade, though.

The 6'10", 279-pounder is a traditional center who doesn't fit anywhere else on the floor, which can be a problem in a seven-game postseason series. It's too easy to exploit centers away from the basket when coaches have more time to draw up a game plan.

And opposing general managers might be wary of adding a player who could command a max contract in the offseason. Sinking that kind of money into Drummond may not be the best use of cap space.

If the Pistons have resigned themselves to trading Drummond, it shouldn't be too difficult. The question is how hard Detroit will bargain before making an agreement.