The Los Angeles Clippers remade their roster this summer in the image of a team seeking to claim an NBA championship in June 2020. The signing of Kawhi Leonard and deal that landed Paul George changed the landscape of the NBA for not only this season, but for years to come.
But as is normally the case in the NBA, windows can close fast. The way they are built now, the Clippers are in contention to claim the Western Conference, but if they were to add current Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond, they could quickly vault themselves to the top of the heap in the league.
On an already stacked roster, LA's one glaring spot for improvement is the starting center slot. That's not necessarily an indictment on Ivica Zubac, who has averaged 8.4 points and 7.1 rebounds in just 16 minutes per contest, but when comparing him to Drummond, it's no contest.
Aside from the benefits it would likely provide for the Clippers' title hopes, this deal makes sense for other reasons as well. Drummond is eligible to hit free agency this summer should he decline a player option of over $28.7 million. While there's no guarantee he will or won't opt in, it appears that Drummond would likely receive at least that on the open market, as he is on pace to now lead the league in rebounding for the third consecutive season.
From Detroit's perspective, dealing Drummond could be a chance at hitting the reset button on a frontcourt power duo that never fully clicked, for a variety of reasons. Dealing for Blake Griffin was a major coup when the two teams last did significant business, until it failed to materialize into consistent winning basketball. Even with injuries limiting the team in 2018-19, they finished .500 and were promptly bounced in the first round of the playoffs. Dealing Drummond before he hits free agency would give the team a chance to recoup significant capital and potentially begin a rebuilding phase, or try a final hurrah with Griffin before potentially moving on from him as well.
Of course, getting Drummond to the Clippers is a tricky task. LA nuked its future draft capital in the trade for George, though the 2020 first-round pick is available to trade. That pick plus Zubac and salary filler like Maurice Harkless and more to match Drummond's sizable contract could be an option. The Pistons could also ask for Montrezl Harrell, though his own impending free agency and his immense value to the Clippers right now complicates matters.
Acquiring a two-time All-Star in the midst of a career year is not always a simple task. But for the Clippers, who have shown a desire to do whatever necessary to pull off deals many see as inconceivable, adding Drummond could tip the balance of power out West firmly into their court, with the road to a ring likely having to go through Staples Center.
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