{"id":16401,"date":"2026-01-26T16:08:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T16:08:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/sixers-trade-andre-drummond\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T16:08:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T16:08:02","slug":"sixers-trade-andre-drummond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/sixers-trade-andre-drummond\/","title":{"rendered":"Sixers Willing To Consider Trading Andre Drummond"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p>Lead: Sources tell local and national reporters that the Philadelphia 76ers are open to moving veteran center Andre Drummond ahead of the upcoming trade deadline next week. Drummond, 32, carries a $5 million expiring deal and has been a rotation staple, starting when Joel Embiid is sidelined and backing him up when available. The rise of second\u2011year big Adem Bona and Philadelphia\u2019s current luxury\u2011tax posture have reduced the roster\u2019s need for Drummond, prompting internal discussions about whether to trade him for flexibility or assets. Any move would be shaped by cap constraints around the league, including teams with hard caps that would need roster changes to add his salary.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Andre Drummond, age 32, is under a $5.0M expiring contract and has played 35 games this season with 16 starts, averaging 20.0 minutes per game.<\/li>\n<li>Stat line: 7.1 points, 9.0 rebounds per game and a 49.7% field goal percentage this season.<\/li>\n<li>Adem Bona\u2019s improved play in his second year has reduced Philadelphia\u2019s reliance on Drummond as a defensive and rebounding option.<\/li>\n<li>The Sixers sit roughly $7.0M above the luxury\u2011tax threshold and about $1.0M from the first apron, influencing trade strategy around tax avoidance.<\/li>\n<li>Veteran guard Eric Gordon (37) carries a $3.63M expiring contract, has appeared in six games with no action since December 23, and counts $2.3M against the cap \u2014 making him another possible movable piece.<\/li>\n<li>Kelly Oubre Jr. ($8.3M) and Quentin Grimes ($8.7M) also have expiring deals; Grimes holds an implicit no\u2011trade right that could block moves.<\/li>\n<li>Jared McCain, a second\u2011year guard, was recently assigned to the G League after falling out of the rotation; he provides insurance if Grimes departs in free agency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>The Sixers entered the season with championship aspirations built around Joel Embiid and a mix of veteran role players. Philadelphia\u2019s roster construction has long balanced competitiveness with careful luxury\u2011tax management; in prior seasons the club has made moves to limit tax exposure. This season the team has shown durable depth when fully healthy, which shifts internal calculations about keeping expiring veterans solely for immediate depth.<\/p>\n<p>Andre Drummond returned to the 76ers on an affordable one\u2011year deal designed to add rebounding and interior defense. Historically one of the league\u2019s most prolific rebounders, Drummond has adapted to a backup\/spot starter role in recent years. Meanwhile, second\u2011year center Adem Bona has emerged as a dependable rotation big, creating overlap with Drummond\u2019s role and making Drummond\u2019s expiring contract more tradable.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>According to reporting from Keith Pompey and subsequent aggregation, Philadelphia has placed Drummond on the trade market as the deadline approaches. The team is evaluating offers that could upgrade depth, add draft capital, or reduce luxury\u2011tax exposure. Because Drummond\u2019s contract expires this summer, acquiring teams would not be taking a long\u2011term commitment, which increases his appeal as a short\u2011term rotation boost.<\/p>\n<p>Internally, coaching staff members view Drummond as a stabilizing veteran who can start when Embiid is out and give Embiid rest minutes when healthy. That on\u2011court versatility is balanced against the roster\u2019s current mix: younger frontcourt players are demonstrating readiness for larger roles, and the club is weighing whether the marginal on\u2011court value justifies retaining Drummond given financial considerations.<\/p>\n<p>Other veterans on expiring contracts have also drawn attention. Eric Gordon\u2019s limited availability and modest cap hit create scenarios where a team with space might be persuaded to take him if a small sweetener is included. Likewise, teams across the league are reported to be monitoring Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes because their expiring salaries could be useful in deadline trades, though Grimes\u2019 implicit no\u2011trade protection complicates any potential deal.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Cap mechanics will be central to any transaction. The Sixers\u2019 position roughly $7.0M over the tax line and about $1.0M below the apron narrows the range of feasible trades; shedding salary would afford Philadelphia more maneuverability in both March and the offseason. Historically the franchise has executed moves to limit tax payments, so decision\u2011makers must decide whether to prioritize short\u2011term payroll relief or maintain depth for a postseason push.<\/p>\n<p>From a basketball perspective, moving Drummond would signal confidence in Adem Bona and other young frontcourt players to handle minutes at the rim. That could accelerate Bona\u2019s development trajectory and free roster space for complementary pieces. Conversely, trading Drummond removes an experienced backup who has proven he can start when Embiid is unavailable, introducing a small risk if injuries arise late in the season.<\/p>\n<p>Potential trade partners are constrained by their own cap situations. Reports noted the Knicks had previously shown interest, but New York\u2019s hard cap would require roster moves to add Drummond\u2019s salary. Teams with true cap space (or willingness to include lottery assets) could take an expiring veteran for immediate playoff depth; smaller markets might need inducements to absorb veteran salary and minutes.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, any moves involving Eric Gordon, Kelly Oubre Jr. or Quentin Grimes would change the Sixers\u2019 wing rotation and veteran leadership in different ways. Gordon\u2019s mentoring of young guards is a non\u2011quantifiable value that could weigh against a financially motivated trade, while trading Oubre or potentially losing Grimes in free agency would reshape perimeter defense and shooting profiles going forward.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Player<\/th>\n<th>Age<\/th>\n<th>Contract (expiring)<\/th>\n<th>Games<\/th>\n<th>PPG<\/th>\n<th>RPG<\/th>\n<th>FG%<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Andre Drummond<\/td>\n<td>32<\/td>\n<td>$5.0M<\/td>\n<td>35 (16 starts)<\/td>\n<td>7.1<\/td>\n<td>9.0<\/td>\n<td>49.7%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Eric Gordon<\/td>\n<td>37<\/td>\n<td>$3.63M<\/td>\n<td>6<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Kelly Oubre Jr.<\/td>\n<td>27<\/td>\n<td>$8.3M<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Quentin Grimes<\/td>\n<td>25<\/td>\n<td>$8.7M<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><figcaption>Season snapshot: Drummond\u2019s playing time and production vs. other expiring contracts on the Sixers. (Source: team reports)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The table highlights that Drummond is the most active of the expiring veterans in terms of games and meaningful minutes. Contract sizes and cap hits vary, which affects trade value and fit for potential suitors. For teams constrained by hard caps, adding an expiring $5M contract means either clearing salary or using exceptions; clubs with room could simply absorb the deal if it improves their playoff chances.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Team sources say the front office is &#8220;weighing flexibility against on\u2011court readiness&#8221; as deadline approaches.<\/p>\n<p><cite>Team sources, via reporting<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Local beat reporting notes Philadelphia views Drummond as tradable because younger bigs have narrowed the performance gap.<\/p>\n<p><cite>Keith Pompey, Philadelphia Inquirer (reporting)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>League evaluators observed that teams with cap space could be target suitors for expiring vets, especially if the Sixers include draft assets or pick\u2011sweeteners.<\/p>\n<p><cite>NBA front\u2011office evaluator (anonymized)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>\n<aside>Explainer \/ Glossary<\/aside>\n<\/h2>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Salary cap, tax line and the apron explained<\/summary>\n<p>The NBA luxury\u2011tax is a threshold above which teams pay incremental penalties for exceeding a set payroll level; teams often avoid the tax to reduce financial costs. The first apron is a higher limit tied to additional restrictions on trades and signings; being near the apron constrains roster moves because the club may face limits on acquiring non\u2011matching salaries. An expiring contract means the player\u2019s deal ends that offseason, making that salary more attractive to teams seeking short\u2011term upgrades without long\u2011term commitment. Hard cap rules apply to certain teams (e.g., those using the taxpayer mid\u2011level exception) and can prevent them from absorbing extra salary without corresponding moves.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The specifics of New York Knicks interest in Drummond remain unconfirmed; reporting indicates prior interest but no active, public offer has been disclosed.<\/li>\n<li>Whether the Nets or Jazz would actually use cap space to take Eric Gordon if a sweetener is provided is speculative and has not been corroborated by team statements.<\/li>\n<li>It is unconfirmed if the Sixers will shift their historical tax\u2011avoidance approach this season; internal deliberations have not been publicly finalized.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Philadelphia\u2019s willingness to consider trading Andre Drummond reflects a pragmatic balance between on\u2011court depth and financial flexibility. Drummond\u2019s expiring $5.0M contract, combined with Adem Bona\u2019s emergence, makes him a logical movable asset for teams seeking immediate interior reinforcement without a long\u2011term commitment.<\/p>\n<p>Any trade between now and the deadline will hinge on cap mechanics and the Sixers\u2019 appetite for paying luxury tax versus preserving veteran depth for a playoff run. Close monitoring of expiring contracts like Gordon\u2019s, Oubre\u2019s and Grimes\u2019 status \u2014 including Grimes\u2019 implicit no\u2011trade protections \u2014 will be crucial to understanding Philadelphia\u2019s final moves.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hoopsrumors.com\/2026\/01\/sixers-willing-to-consider-trading-andre-drummond.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HoopsRumors<\/a> (independent reporting and aggregation)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Philadelphia Inquirer \/ Keith Pompey<\/a> (local reporting; subscription)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead: Sources tell local and national reporters that the Philadelphia 76ers are open to moving veteran center Andre Drummond ahead of the upcoming trade deadline next week. Drummond, 32, carries a $5 million expiring deal and has been a rotation staple, starting when Joel Embiid is sidelined and backing him up when available. The rise &#8230; <a title=\"Sixers Willing To Consider Trading Andre Drummond\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/sixers-trade-andre-drummond\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Sixers Willing To Consider Trading Andre Drummond\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16395,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Sixers Willing To Consider Trading Andre Drummond | SportsBrief","rank_math_description":"Sources say the 76ers may move Andre Drummond before the trade deadline; expiring contracts, Adem Bona\u2019s rise and the team\u2019s tax position shape possible deals.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Andre Drummond,Sixers,trade deadline,Eric Gordon,Adem Bona","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16401"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16401\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}