Why Andre Drummond is a Trade Deadline Target to Avoid
As the NBA trade deadline looms, the Boston Celtics have expressed interest in Kelly Olynyk, Delon Wright, and Andre Drummond. The C’s pursuit of a big man is hardly a surprise given their lack of depth and Kristaps Porzingis’ injury concerns, but Drummond specifically has sparked conversation and concern.
From a fan perspective, the 30-year-old is one of the worst players to watch play in the entire league. He is slow, inefficient, and cannot shoot the ball. Yes, his stat line of 7.7 points per game and 8.3 rebounds this season is better than the other two targets, but Drummond is a horrendous free-throw shooter.
NBA Trade Deadline Approaching: Celtics reportedly "active" and have expressed interest in Kelly Olynyk, Andre Drummond and Delon Wright 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/eWZ8wahiWa
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) February 6, 2024
Teams throughout the league have utilized the hack-a-Drummond strategy down the stretch against an already mediocre Bulls squad. The Celtics even came under fire for using it during the NBA In-Season Tournament. Joe Mazzulla’s team intentionally fouled Drummond while up 32 points in order to reach the necessary point differential to advance.
Do Celtics fans really want to be on the other end of that?
In-Season Tournament Drama: Joe Mazzulla Got Into It With Billy Donovan After Pulling A Diabolical Move To Hack-A-Drummond Up 32 To Help The Celtics Advance https://t.co/Tb2jhZjFBQ pic.twitter.com/v5kl0KvWRf
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 29, 2023
Mazzulla has preached an analytics-based game all season long with an emphasis on three-point shooting. Drummond has shot two threes this year. He missed both. Obviously, he is not going to shoot three’s if he joins the Celtics, but it highlights the larger point that Drummond is a nightmare for the system in Boston.
The scare Drummond presents is his inability to shoot free throws. It doesn’t take an advanced analytics team to figure out that as a 47.8% career free-throw shooter, he averages less than one point per possession when fouled. Over the course of ten possessions, that means less than five points. Think about that compared to Mazzulla’s favored three-point shot. Boston could shoot 2/10 and still be more efficient than Drummond from the line.
More important than Drummond being a bad fit in Boston is that Olynyk is a significantly better option. First and foremost, he fits the “Mazzulla Ball” style. Olynyk stretches the floor, shoots the three, and passes the ball exceptionally well for a big. Kelly is also familiar with the organization, having been drafted by Boston in 2013 before leaving for Miami in free agency. During his four years with the Celtics, he averaged 9.5 points and 4.7 rebounds.
Brad Stevens coached Olynyk while he was on the sidelines, and he is undoubtedly the most coveted of the three. However, there is a market for the Gonzaga alum. The Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks have both shown interest in making a deal with the Jazz.
Kelly Olynyk talks about the possibility of being traded from the Jazz as the deadline nears. pic.twitter.com/6rNxlajV30
— Dana Greene (@dana_greene) February 6, 2024
At the end of the day, the Celtics have the best record in the league and are favorites to win the NBA Championship. Does this move put them over the edge? Probably not. All I ask is that I do not have to watch Andre Drummond miss free throws on a nightly basis.
Written by Intern Ryan Bell
