Houston has honed in on Andre Drummond as a potential trade target.
The Houston Rockets aren’t far off from nabbing a spot in the NBA Playoffs and believe they could make noise in the Western Conference this season. The team is keen on bolstering their frontcourt depth and has set their eyes on acquiring the Chicago Bulls’ reserve big man Andre Drummond.
Exploring the center market
The Rockets already have a star in talented center Alperen Sengun, averaging 21.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game this season. However, the team doesn’t have reliable depth behind the 21-year-old, with Jock Landale and Boban Marjanovic backing him up.
With the February 8 trade deadline looming, The Athletic has reported that the Rockets are “exploring the trade market” and have identified Drummond—a four-time rebounding champ—as a potential target.
“The Rockets, league sources said, are also exploring the center market, looking to bolster their rim protection. According to those sources, Houston is keeping tabs on Utah’s Kelly Olynyk, Atlanta’s Clint Capela, Chicago’s Andre Drummond and Portland’s Robert Williams III (who has fans throughout the current coaching staff) among others,” Kelly Iko, Shams Charania, and Sam Amick reported.
Reliable vet
Drummond, a two-time All-Star and a one-time All-NBA Team member, has embraced the role of backup big man in the last four years. Despite playing under 16 minutes per game this season, the former UConn star is averaging 7.8 points on 55 percent shooting and 8.3 rebounds per game.
He also played a vital role during a stretch when starting center Nikola Vucevic injured his groin, forcing the Bulls to place Drummond in the starting five. The 30-year-old delivered and averaged 13.4 points and 16.2 rebounds in the five games that Vooch missed.
Drummond is set to become a free agent as he’s playing in the final year of a two-year contract he signed with Chicago in 2022.
