Detroit Pistons

An unwillingness to act on a Blake Griffin trade could end up killing the Detroit Pistons.

According to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic, teams were interested in a trade for the forward last season, but the Pistons "wanted to see where Griffin could take the organization."

A year later, injuries and poor play have killed the six-time All-Star's value. Per Edwards, Detroit likely won't be able to deal him away without adding an asset to help unload the remainder of Griffin's five-year, $171.2 million contract.

Griffin is making $34.4 million in 2019-20, with over $75 million owed over the next two seasons if he uses his player option for 2021-22.

The 30-year-old appeared to be worth the price last season, when he averaged a career-high 24.5 points to go with his 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. After beginning his career as an elite athlete who could dominate inside, the veteran had transformed his game while becoming a versatile scorer who shot 36.2 percent from three-point range.

It was enough to carry the Pistons to the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, though the Milwaukee Bucks swept them in the first round of the playoffs.

His value has tanked since then, with a knee injury keeping him off the court and limiting him when he is on it. Griffin has played just 18 games this season, averaging 15.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported the forward is considering season-ending surgery on his left knee.

Anyone acquiring the forward will be banking on his ability to return full strength in the 11th season of his NBA career.

The Pistons entered Monday 11th in the East with a 13-24 record, which means trading Griffin could help kick-start a rebuild. However, it would've been more beneficial to deal him away last season instead of seeking that playoff appearance.

Detroit Pistons power forward Blake Griffin is reportedly considering undergoing season-ending knee surgery.

According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, he will see a specialist this week in Los Angeles to weigh his options.

In his second full season as a member of the Pistons, Griffin has been hampered by an injury to his left knee. He missed the first 10 games of the season and has not played since Dec. 28.

Even when healthy, he has not been as productive as usual with averages of 15.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 18 games.

Last season was perhaps the best all-around year of Griffin's career. He was named an All-Star for the first time since 2014-15 with the Los Angeles Clippers and the sixth time overall, putting up 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists per contest.

He also expanded his range by making a career-high 2.5 threes per game while converting at a rate of 36.2 percent from beyond the arc.

Although the Pistons had suspect production beyond Griffin and center Andre Drummond, they claimed the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot with a 41-41 record.

With Griffin absent for half their games, the Pistons are just 13-24 this season, and it will be difficult for them to improve upon that mark if he undergoes surgery. As well, Drummond has been the subject of trade talks.

If Griffin does get shut down, Drummond will be the go-to guy offensively for as long as he is on the team with guards Derrick Rose and Langston Galloway asked to do more as well.

In terms of who will replace Griffin, Christian Wood figures to see increased minutes and could become the starting power forward. Thon Maker may also see more playing time than usual.

Detroit boasts a decent amount of depth, but without Griffin in the lineup, the Pistons are down to one star in Drummond, and it is difficult to win in the current NBA without multiple stars on the floor.

Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond said Saturday he's still committed to the team despite becoming the focus of trade rumors amid a 13-23 start to the 2019-20 NBA season.

"I'm not a quitter, for one," Drummond 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."

His comments came one day after ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Pistons had started "escalating discussions" with multiple teams about a potential blockbuster involving the two-time All-Star, including "serious recent talks" with the Atlanta Hawks that could net Detroit a 2020 first-round draft pick.

Drummond is enjoying another strong statistical campaign despite the team's struggles. He's averaged 17.5 points, an NBA-high 15.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks in 34 games. He ranks 22nd among all qualified players in Player Efficiency Rating, per ESPN.

He's also in the final guaranteed season of a five-year, $127.2 million contract with the Pistons. He holds a player option for next season at $28.8 million.

Drummond explained Saturday the trade speculation comes with the territory given his contract situation, the team's current standing and next month's deadline:

"I've been dealing with this since the year I signed my contract so the trade rumors will always come around, so this is another year for me. It's always that time of year around January where trade talks come. Nothing's happened. Obviously, the talks have started, so these questions will start to come. I've been looking forward to them coming, but for me, I'm just going to continue to play the game I play, play here in Detroit where I love to be, and whatever happens, happens."

The 26-year-old UConn product has spent his entire pro career with the Pistons, who selected him with the ninth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft.

For now, Detroit and its star center are back in action Sunday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks have reportedly held trade discussions focused on All-Star center Andre Drummond.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, no deal is imminent, but the Pistons are open to moving Drummond, as they are talking to the Hawks and "several other teams." Rod Beard of the Detroit News confirmed the report and added that the Pistons are "doing due diligence."

Wojnarowski furthered his report by adding that the Hawks are looking to send a package that includes the Brooklyn Nets' 2020 first-round pick and salary cap relief in the form of expiring contracts, plus other assets to Detroit.

Per Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks and Toronto Raptors have also shown interest in Drummond. Goodwill also noted that Drummond is friendly with Mavs forward Kristaps Porzingis and Raptors guard Kyle Lowry.

The 26-year-old Drummond can become a free agent at the conclusion of the season if he declines his player option for 2020-21, and with the Pistons struggling to the tune of a 12-23 record, he seems like a strong bet to be moved prior to the deadline.

Drummond is enjoying a career year despite the Pistons' struggles as a whole and seems well on his way to his third All-Star nod. He is averaging a career-high 17.6 points to go along with an NBA-leading 15.8 rebounds, plus 2.7 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks.

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He is also shooting 53.7 percent from the field, and his free-throw percentage of 61.4 percent is a career best as well.

Drummond is one the NBA's best centers, and with three rebounding titles to his credit, there is no one better than him on the boards. That figures to make him a hot commodity on the free-agent market, but it may also entice teams to trade for him in order to get a leg up on the competition.

Some teams may view Drummond as a rental, but since the Hawks are an NBA-worst 7-27, they would undoubtedly be trading for him in hopes of immediately re-signing him.

The Hawks are on pace to miss the playoffs and win fewer than 30 games for the third straight year, but they have an impressive assortment of young talent that could lead to brighter and better days in the near future.

Second-year guard Trae Young leads the team with averages of 28.5 points and 8.3 assists per game, forward John Collins is nearly averaging a double-double with 18.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per contest, and rookie wing De'Andre Hunter has shown flashes of becoming a great two-way player.

One thing the Hawks lack is a dominant presence in the paint, but Drummond has shown he can be precisely that on both ends of the floor, which is likely why he is such an attractive option for general manager Travis Schlenk.

Acquiring Drummond would be a huge risk for the Hawks since he could walk in the offseason, but if they manage to re-sign him, they could quickly go from cellar dweller to playoff contender in the Eastern Conference.

Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin is dealing with a knee injury that will keep him out for the second half of Saturday's game against the Houston Rockets. 

Per Keith Langlois of Pistons.com, Griffin has soreness in his surgically repaired left knee. 

Injuries have taken their toll on Griffin through the years. After missing just four games in his first four years on an NBA court, the 6'9", 250-pound big man has averaged just 59.2 games over the past five seasons entering 2019-20. 

He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in April. Though he was expected to be ready for the start of the season, he wound up missing the first 10 games with knee and hamstring issues.

The six-time All-Star was averaging 17.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in 13 appearances this season—both career lows—entering Saturday's matchup.

Back in September, Griffin told The Athletic's James L. Edwards III that he's open to load management and sitting out if it helps keep his body fresh. Pistons senior adviser Ed Stefanski noted the team planned on keeping an eye on its veterans, as it did not want to "run them into the ground."

If Detroit is going to make the postseason for the second consecutive year and advance beyond the first round for the first time since 2008, having a healthy Griffin figures to be key. When he is out, the team will likely turn to veteran Markieff Morris to fill in at power forward. 

The Charlotte Hornets have "no interest" in acquiring Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond, according to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press on Saturday.

That news was in response to a report from Sean Deveney of Heavy.com, who wrote on Nov. 22 that the Hornets were targeting Drummond and had been interested in him for over a year.

Drummond, 26, is averaging 17.7 points and a league-leading 16.6 rebounds per game. He has a player option for 2020-21 that he can waive to become a free agent next summer.

The 10-15 Pistons are mired in 10th place in the Eastern Conference.

Injuries have taken a toll, with Blake Griffin missing 12 games and Reggie Jackson out for all but two. Griffin has also struggled since coming back, scoring 17.1 points on just 38.1 percent shooting.

There's a 2.5-game gap between the top seven Eastern Conference teams and the rest of the East, with the Orlando Magic holding the eighth spot despite an 11-14 record. It's possible that Detroit sneaks into the postseason, but the Pistons are far from contending for an NBA title.

Dealing the productive Drummond wouldn't be a bad idea considering he may opt for free agency after the season.

The Hornets could be a good fit, as they are struggling on the boards on a nightly basis. Per ESPN.com, they rank 24th in rebounding differential.

But Mitchell Northam of Sports Illustrated wrote in November that Drummond doesn't fit with head coach James Borrego's style. Northam also mentioned the Hornets' current path to rebuild around younger players as well as the large amount of money Drummond will receive in the future as reasons the team likely isn't interested in him.

But if the Pistons continue their struggles into the winter, the big man's name could be the subject of rumors prior to the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond is a game-time decision against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday after suffering an allergic reaction to an avocado, per head coach Dwane Casey (h/t Mavs play-by-play man Chuck Cooperstein). 

Drummond's eyes swelled shut as a result of the allergic reaction.

The 26-year-old center has averaged 17.5 points and a league-leading 16.7 rebounds per game for the 10-14 Pistons, who are ninth in the Eastern Conference. The big man has missed just 10 total games over his past six full seasons. 

Last year, he sat three times. Drummond suffered a concussion after Miami Heat forward James Johnson accidentally knocked his forearm into the center's head on January 18, but the 7-footer was back on the court seven days later.

Expect Christian Wood to see more time down low if Drummond can't go Thursday. The 24-year-old has posted 9.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in 15.0 minutes per game.

Game time is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.

Derrick Rose was so psyched after hitting a game-winning jump shot with 0.8 seconds remaining to propel the Detroit Pistons to a 105-103 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night that he cursed on television:

Rose continued: "Like, dead serious, this is what I do. That's one of the reasons why they brought me here."

Rose scored 17 fourth-quarter points, including a game-tying layup to set up his game-winner:

The 31-year-old point guard finished with a team-high 21 points along with seven assists, three rebounds and a block off of the bench. 

His performance called back to his 2010-11 MVP campaign during which he regularly made game-changing shots. The three-time All-Star has bounced around since his prime years with the Chicago Bulls, and he signed a two-year deal with the Pistons during free agency this summer.

Entering Monday's matchup with the Pelicans, Rose was averaging 15.8 points, 5.7 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 23.5 minutes across 18 games (one start).

The Milwaukee Bucks topped the Detroit Pistons 127-103 at Little Caesars Arena Wednesday night, but Giannis Antetokounmpo still had positive things to say about the Pistons' defense. 

"They're just a great defensive team and just play really physical," Antetokounmpo told reporters. "They want to be physical, they want to be dirty. They want you to get out of your game, and whenever you come in Detroit, you expect that."

Antetokounmpo knows what goes into a solid defense, as his Bucks' 101.8 defensive rating tops the NBA.

Antetokounmpo poured in a game-high 35 points and nearly notched a double-double with nine rebounds.

The reigning NBA MVP did so despite having Pistons draped all over him, which led to tensions flaring in the third quarter: 

Pistons All-Star forward Blake Griffin also spoke to the "level of physicality" necessary to compete with the 19-3 Bucks:

The 8-14 Pistons might still be carrying a grudge against Milwaukee, who swept them out of the first round of last season's playoffs.   

Everybody in the Eastern Conference is aiming for the Bucks, though. Milwaukee has won 13 straight games.

The Charlotte Hornets are reportedly set to "target" Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond, though it's unclear whether they'll make a push to acquire him before the NBA trade deadline in February or wait until he can become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Sean Deveney of Heavy reported Friday the Pistons have "not yet considered moving" Drummond this season, but that could change following the team's 4-10 start.

"He'll be a priority [in Charlotte]," a source told Deveney. "It's just a matter of whether they make him a priority now and give up something to get him or try to make the move later. It's a very cautious group, Mitch Kupchak and those guys. But they might want to get this guy into the fold sooner rather than later, there's just a lot of incentive there on both sides."

Drummond is in the final guaranteed season of his five-year, $127.2 million contract with the Pistons. He can utilize a player option in the deal to become a free agent after the 2019-20 campaign.

The 26-year-old UConn product made comments in August that made it sound like a trip into the open market was a foregone conclusion.

"I'm a free agent next summer," Drummond told reporters. "Yeah, it should be fun. I'm excited. I think I'm the only one that has a big contract coming up for the year."

In October, Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press reported the sides have discussed an extension, but the two-time All-Star "would like to sign the second maximum contract of his career" and an offer of anything less from Detroit would probably lead him to free agency.

If the Pistons aren't prepared to give him a max deal, shifting focus to a potential trade is a likely step with the team already facing an uphill battle to make the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Charlotte has built a promising group of backcourt and wing players led by Devonte' Graham, Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges, Malik Monk and Dwayne Bacon. It also has rookie PJ Washington as a high-upside stretch 4 after a strong start to his NBA career.

Drummond, who's averaging 18.6 points, a league-leading 16.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks through 14 appearances this season, would seem like a perfect fit for the Hornets' roster.

The question is whether Charlotte is comfortable giving up some assets to acquire him within the next couple months to make a postseason push this season or wait to see if it can attract him in free agency.