It’s no secret that the Detroit Pistons are poised to be major sellers this trade season. With the Griffin/Drummond experiment officially labeled as a failure, they are obviously ready for a rebuild.
The Knicks, no nobody’s surprise, are buyers and could be looking to acquire a guy like Andre Drummond for the right deal.
But according to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press, the two sides have actually had discussions about a potential deal involving their best players, and it was lead by the Pistons — who have had an interest in young guard Frank Ntilikina before.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Friday the Knicks have express interest in Drummond, news which was confirmed by others.
I checked Saturday morning with a league source familiar with the Knicks’ front office thinking and was told, “there’s nothing there.”
The source said it was the Pistons who initiated discussions with a package centered around Drummond and another Pistons player for big man Julius Randle and guard Frank Ntilikina, a player the Pistons have previously tried to pry from the Knicks.
Apparently, the Knicks aren’t keen on acquiring Drummond. And while his limitations on the offensive end make his contract a rather expensive investment, he would be their best player (by far).
The Knicks have been unable to acquire a star since the departure of Carmelo Anthony three years ago. Since they have struggled to maintain a semblance of relevance in the East, a guy like Drummond could be a necessary step in changing their fortunes.
Nonetheless, nobody knows what their next step might be. It will be interesting to see how things play out for them in the weeks leading up to February’s deadline.
