The Philadelphia 76ers have quietly turned the page on last season’s struggles and are now firmly in the mix for a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference. That alone is a major turnaround - and with the trade deadline approaching, the front office has a chance to fine-tune a roster that’s already made a big leap.
One name to keep an eye on as the Sixers explore ways to bolster their rotation: veteran center Andre Drummond.
According to reports, Philadelphia is weighing its options when it comes to Drummond, who’s in the final year of his deal. Now 32, Drummond isn’t the All-Star-level force he once was in his Detroit days, when he was regularly posting 15+ boards a night. But make no mistake - he’s still a rebounding machine in limited minutes.
This season, Drummond is averaging 7.1 points and 9.0 rebounds in just 20 minutes per game. That kind of production off the bench is valuable, especially for a team with playoff aspirations. He’s also been a reliable spot starter when needed, giving the Sixers a physical presence in the paint and a steadying veteran hand in the second unit.
Financially, Drummond’s $5 million expiring contract is manageable and could be a useful piece in trade discussions. The Sixers aren’t expected to make any blockbuster moves before the deadline, but Drummond’s deal - potentially packaged with another player - could help them land a rotation piece to deepen the bench for the stretch run.
Philly also has younger options like Adem Bona who can step into backup minutes if needed, which makes the idea of moving Drummond more feasible. It’s less about what he can’t do and more about how the Sixers can maximize their roster flexibility as they gear up for the postseason.
The Sixers don’t need to make a splash - they’ve already done the hard part by getting themselves back into contention. But a smart, calculated move involving Drummond could help them solidify their depth and stay competitive in a crowded Eastern Conference playoff race.