Could Andre Drummond be the answer at center for the Charlotte Hornets?
Fans have expressed interest in the Charlotte Hornets trading for Andre Drummond in the past, but now that he can test the waters of free agency, should they pursue him?
It’s no secret that the Charlotte Hornets have needed an upgrade at the center position for some time. Most fans are hoping they address this through the draft, but there are several upcoming free agents that could be a possible solution.
One such player is Andre Drummond, who will be entering the final year of his five-year, $130 million deal that he signed with the Detroit Pistons back in 2016. Now with the Cleveland Cavaliers after a trade earlier in the year, Drummond may decide testing free agency is the right call.
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He is set to make $25 million next season, should he decide to exercise his player option, but the Cavs might not be interested in giving him a long-term deal afterward, so he may want to seek a new suitor, and that suitor could be the Charlotte Hornets.
Long rumored to be a target of the Hornets through trades, Drummond has been eyed by many a fan and for good reason. This past season, the 6’10” center put up some very nice numbers, scoring 17.6 points and 13.5 rebounds a game.
I’ve harped on how Charlotte needs a true rebounding center for some time and many fans would agree with this sentiment. A large section of Hornets fans have coveted Drummond for some time and now might be the time to truly pursue him.
The issue, though, may just be his asking price, should he decide to decline his player option. The Hornets are set to have about $25 million in cap space this offseason and that might be the number Drummond wants. Whether he really deserves that is the question.
He’s a great center, for sure, but many question his ability to actually lead a team. Charlotte doesn’t exactly have a leader, per se, but they wouldn’t ask Drummond to fill that role anyway. Of course, it might always be best to try and draft a center, thus saving money and having a young guy to develop in their system, but Drummond is proven.
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If they do sign him, though, it might hamper their ability to re-sign important parts of their young core, like Devonte’ Graham, who is eventually going fetch a pretty penny after emerging as the team’s leading scorer and facilitator.
Still, it would be an improvement to the team, at least on paper, and many fans are honestly desperate for the Charlotte Hornets’ front-office to do anything in free-agency to show some desire to get better.
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It’d be an interesting decision, that’s for sure, and would at the very least, give the Hornets some star power, given that Drummond is a two-time All-Star and at the right price, he could be a nice addition to the team. Time will tell if he’s wearing purple and teal this time next year.