Earlier this summer, Andre Drummond opted into the player option on his contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. As such, the veteran big man will earn $5 million for anchoring the Sixers’ second-unit front-court rotation in the upcoming season.
That is, of course, unless the Sixers choose to trade Drummond ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline in 2026. And, according to Matty Breisch of ClutchPoints, that is precisely what the Sixers front office could decide to do.
“If the 76ers had their way, they would have already moved on from Andre Drummond,” Breisch wrote. “Once considered the best backup center the 76ers have employed behind Embiid, the former $100 million center from the Detroit Pistons struggled mightily last season both in starting and backup duty, keeping up his typical mastery as a rebounder but regressing as both a defender and a scorer.”
Breisch continued.
“With an expiring deal worth just $5 million, Drummond could easily be moved in almost any trade. He has enough pedigree that some team may actually be willing to surrender an even asset to bring him to town.”
Drummond’s game is a throwback to the hulking big men of the past. He’s not going to stretch the floor from deep. Nor is he going to become a creation hub as a hand-off threat around the perimeter. Drummond knows what he brings to the table, and he does it at a high level.
There will always be a team in need of high-level rebounding off the bench. As such, the Sixers would be unlikely to struggle if they chose to search out a trade partner for the veteran center.
Sixers Have Already Been Shopping Drummond
According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, the Sixers have explored potential avenues to trade Drummond this summer.
“If I were a Philly Sixers fan, I would be looking out for Andre Drummond,” Jones posted on July 1. “The Sixers have been trying to move him over the last 24 hours. Let’s see if they get it done.”
Despite Jones’ report, Drummond is still a member of the Sixers rotation. Of course, that could change in the near future should Daryl Morey find a deal that provides fair value in return.
Drummond played in 40 games last season, averaging 7.3 points and 7.8 rebounds. He shot 50% from the field and 62.2% from the free-throw line.
Drummond Has Enjoyed Playing For Nick Nurse
During a media availability shortly after the 2024-25 season ended, Drummond shared his thoughts on what it’s like to play for Nick Nurse.
“It was good,” Drummond said. “It was different. I’ve never played for a guy like Nick before who is more laid back and allows his guys to kind of figure it out, but he’s also very intelligent, too. He knows the game very well. Obviously, he’s won a championship, and he’s been very successful in his career. So I think having another year under my belt with him, I think our chemistry together will be a lot better, because he’s never coached me either, so he’s still trying to figure me out.”
Drummond will likely get a chance to suit up for Nurse again in the coming season. However, given his low-cost deal and the potential interest from around the NBA, he may not be working with the championship-winning coach all season. The Sixers will undoubtedly explore their options. If one of those options makes sense, Drummond could be heading to a new situation once again.
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