Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons may want to trade Andre Drummond before the Feb. 6 deadline, but there doesn't appear to be a long list of suitors eager to meet their demands right now.

Per Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, the Pistons have had "no traction" to this point in their talks with other teams for the two-time All-Star.

Mannix notes that multiple teams have "kicked the tires" on Drummond, but so far nothing has appealed to Detroit. 

Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reported Thursday that the Atlanta Hawks were no longer talking to the Pistons about dealing for the veteran center after previously offering some combination of Damian Jones, Chandler Parsons or Allen Crabbe and a first-round draft pick. 

The Hawks were believed to be serious suitors for Drummond in the wake of Trae Young's hopes for the team to add more talent around him. 

For the Pistons, they have to decide what direction to move next in this disappointing season. Blake Griffin tried to play through knee problems before undergoing surgery on Jan. 7 that will keep him out indefinitely. Their 15-27 record is ninth in the Eastern Conference.

Drummond leads the team with 15.7 rebounds per game and ranks second with 17.3 points per game. The 26-year-old can become a free agent this summer if he opts out of his contract. 

Detroit Pistons guard Derrick Rose has been fined $25,000 for throwing a pen into the stands, according to Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic. 

The incident occurred in the final minute of overtime in Monday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Detroit overcame a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime but struggled in the final period and suffered a 117-110 defeat.

Rose was instrumental in the comeback, making the game-tying shot with 30.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

The veteran finished with a team-high 23 points and eight assists.

Still, it wasn't enough to help his team come out on top as the Pistons suffered their third straight loss and 12th defeat in the last 15 games.

The squad is now 14-27, well out of the running for a playoff spot after entering the year with high expectations.

These struggles were clearly enough to frustrate Rose to the point of throwing a pen across the court late in Monday's game.

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.

Derrick Rose isn't even considering a possible trade ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline.

The Detroit Pistons guard was asked about whether he wants to be dealt in the next few weeks, but responded that it wasn't on his mind.

"I haven't really thought about it," Rose told K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports. "Me and [agent] B.J. [Armstrong] haven't talked about it. When we have talked, it was more about All-Star and what appearances I have for Adidas. It wasn't anything else as far as like what teams are calling, this and that. We were pretty straightforward. We talk about how I play."

Rose is already making plans for All-Star weekend in Chicago by competing in the Skills Competition, via Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The 31-year-old has moved quite a bit over the past few years, playing for five different teams in the last five seasons.

He signed with the Pistons this offseason on a two-year, $15 million deal, and has looked the part on the court with an average of 17.8 points and 5.8 assists per game in 34 appearances. 

The veteran also said he's now "comfortable" in his current spot after saying he found "happiness" in October, per Eric Woodyard of ESPN.

This likely ensures that he's in no rush to go on the move again.

However, the Pistons have struggled as a team this season with a 14-26 record entering Sunday. Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin could be dealt, but Rose could be easier to unload considering his contract.

"The Pistons aren't going anywhere and need to rebuild, and Rose could actually get them something worthwhile in return," James Herbert of CBS Sports wrote.

Considering his experience and recent level of play, the point guard could be a valuable addition to a contender looking to add offense.

Still, it seems Rose is perfectly content remaining with Detroit for the remainder of his contract.

The Detroit Pistons have reportedly applied for a $9.2 million disabled player exception for injured forward Blake Griffin, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical and Stadium.

Griffin has not played since Dec. 28 due to a knee injury, and per ESPN's Tim Bontemps, he underwent arthroscopic surgery this week. There is no timetable for his return.

With the Pistons applying for a DPE, it suggests Detroit does not expect Griffin to play again this season.

If it is deemed likely that a player will miss the remainder of the season, the NBA can grant a team a DPE, which is usually for half of the player's salary prorated for the rest of the campaign.

Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported this week that Griffin was weighing his options, including season-ending surgery, and the arthroscopic procedure could end up being precisely that.

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Provided the Pistons are awarded the DPE, it would allow them to use that money to sign a free agent to a one-year contract, trade for a player with one year remaining on his contract or claim a player off waivers who has one year remaining on his contract.

Since the Pistons are currently 14-25 and probably more likely to sell than buy, it is possible that they wouldn't even use the DPE. Having it would give them more flexibility if needed, however.

Griffin missed the start of the season due to offseason knee surgery, and with the issues flaring up again, he has appeared in just 18 games this season.

In 2018-19, Griffin enjoyed a career year that saw him average 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists en route to his sixth All-Star nod. He also helped push the Pistons into the playoffs.

He clearly hasn't been the same player this season, though, with averages of 15.5 points, 4.7 assists and 3.3 assists, which is the worst production of his career thus far.

With Griffin injured and the Pistons reportedly holding trade talks focused on All-Star center Andre Drummond, who can become a free agent at the end of the season if he opts out, they may be looking ahead to the future.

If someone becomes available who could help them for the remainder of this season, however, the DPE would come in handy.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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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.

The Detroit Pistons have reportedly locked in on Fred VanVleet as a target in July's free-agency period.

James Edwards III of The Athletic reported Tuesday that the Pistons view VanVleet as someone who can shore up their struggling guard rotation. The Pistons front office is currently deciding whether to begin a full-scale rebuild or field a competitive roster in 2020-21; VanVleet would fit with the latter way of thinking.

The Raptors point guard is in the midst of a career season, averaging 18.0 points, 7.0 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game while helping keep Toronto relevant in the East post-Kawhi Leonard. His breakout as a scorer and ball distributor has helped mitigate the loss of Leonard and given the Raptors an interesting one-two wrinkle with VanVleet and Kyle Lowry at the guard spots.

The idea of him being enough of a difference-maker to push these Pistons into relevance seems like a stretch.

Andre Drummond can become an unrestricted free agent this summer by declining his 2020-21 player option, and Detroit is already entertaining the idea of moving him. Blake Griffin underwent knee surgery Tuesday and has no timetable for a return. Nor does it appear likely Griffin will be 100 percent healthy in the immediate future.

Re-signing Drummond, hoping Griffin is healthy next season and adding VanVleet might be enough to make the Pistons a playoff team, but that's not the recipe for a contender. Detroit could probably extract some value for Drummond now on the trade market and showcase Griffin next season for a trade as part of a rebuild.

The Pistons are a franchise famously averse to full-fledged tanking. They have made the playoffs just twice in the past 10 seasons but haven't finished any lower than 12th in the Eastern Conference during that time frame. The franchise has not had a pick higher than No. 7 since Darko Milicic in 2003.

VanVleet will be 26 in February, so odds are he'll be pushing 30 and nearing free agency by the time the Pistons are relevant again. 

Detroit Pistons star Blake Griffin opted to have surgery on his ailing left knee. 

Per ESPN's Tim Bontemps, the Pistons announced Griffin had an arthroscopic procedure on Tuesday that will require an extended period of rehabilitation and there is no timetable for his return. 

This comes after Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reported Monday the six-time All-Star was seeing a specialist this week to go over his options, which included season-ending surgery.

Griffin was an All-Star for the first time since 2015 during the 2018-19 campaign. He got 2019-20 off on the wrong foot, though, as hamstring and knee injuries forced him to miss the first 10 games.

Upon returning to the court, Griffin didn't look like his usual self. He averaged 15.5 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 35.2 percent from the floor and 24.3 percent from beyond the arc.

The Pistons reached the playoffs in 2019, losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. A return to the postseason is all but out of the question in 2020, and Griffin's absence has played no small part in that.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported Jan. 3 that Detroit was discussing an Andre Drummond trade with interested suitors, a move that seemingly indicated the team's shifting priorities.

Tuesday's news about Griffin is another setback for the Pistons in what is shaping up to be a lost season.

Chicago native Derrick Rose will reportedly return to his hometown to take part in the NBA's All-Star Weekend festivities.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Detroit Pistons guard has accepted an invitation to participate in the Skills Challenge on Feb. 15.

The annual Skills Challenge pits players in one-one-one matchups where they race through identical courses and are required to dribble through obstacles, complete a pass into a net, run the length of the court to make a layup and run to the opposite end and make a three-point shot.

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is the defending champion in the event.

Rose spent the first eight years of his career with the Chicago Bulls, who drafted him No. 1 overall in 2008. He quickly became their franchise cornerstone, winning Rookie of the Year and being named the youngest MVP in NBA history at age 22 during the 2010-11 season.

A series of injuries starting in the 2011-12 campaign knocked Rose's career off its upward trajectory. He hasn't played more than 66 games in a season since his MVP year.

Last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves was a bounce-back campaign for Rose. The 31-year-old only played in 51 games, but he averaged 18.0 points per contest and shot a career-high 37 percent from three-point range.

Rose joined the Pistons over the summer and has been one of their best offensive players with 17.3 points and a team-high 5.7 assists per game. His 48.6 shooting percentage is on pace to be the second-highest of his career (48.9 percent in 2009-10).