Andre Drummond may have just made the 76ers’ offseason decision a whole lot easier.
Philadelphia still has a real need behind Joel Embiid, but Drummond’s latest comments suggest he’s not interested in another discount to stay put. That matters because the 76ers’ backup-center situation is still unsettled, even after a busy start to the offseason that brought in Jaylen Brown, Dean Wade and Ariel Hukporti.
In a recent exchange, Drummond made it clear he’s done taking pay cuts.
"I did that once and then I got labeled as one of those guys, and I think it really killed my value in the NBA, because I'm still moving like I'm in my mid-20s. I still have a lot left in the tank."
That’s the kind of message that changes the tone of a negotiation fast. The 76ers are still technically under the first tax apron, but they don’t have much flexibility left for free agents, and their priorities have shifted enough that keeping Drummond is no longer at the top of the list.
That’s a notable turn for a team that could still use him. Drummond gave Philadelphia a useful season, averaging 6.4 points and 8.4 rebounds in just under 20 minutes per game.
He also added a little more range than usual, knocking down 35.6 percent of his three-point attempts in limited volume. For a team thin at backup center, that was good enough.
But the financial reality is the financial reality. If another team is willing to offer more than the veteran’s minimum, Drummond may have a market. The 76ers, though, don’t sound like a team ready to stretch for him.
So even if the second Drummond stint in Philly was largely positive, it now looks like it’s heading toward the end. The fit made sense.
The need made sense. The money, apparently, does not.
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