NBA Trade News: Detroit Pistons are shopping Andre Drummond

The Detroit Pistons have made All-Star centre Andre Drummond available via trade, according to several reports. The Pistons reportedly received offers for the big man prior to February's NBA Trade Deadline but couldn't make a deal.

Pistons coach-cum-president Stan Van Gundy has often hinted at the possibility of hitting the reset button by shipping away Drummond and point guard Reggie Jackson. Both Drummond and Jackson are said to be on the market for the right price as the NBA offseason picks up steam with free agency starting July 1.

Prior to Thursday's NBA Draft, Drummond was mentioned in possible trade scenarios with the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers. There was chatter of Pistons sending Drummond to Sacramento in exchange for draft picks, besides a potential swap for Clippers star DeAndre Jordan. But the Clippers have shot down the rumours and don't intend to trade Jordan, who enters the final year of his contract in the 2017-18 season.

Andre Drummond trade talks could intensify in July

According to The Detroit News, Pistons will be aggressive players during the NBA offseason and have every intention of improving the roster that notched up 37 wins last season. Van Gundy revealed a recent conversation he had with Drummond in which he point black told the centre that a trade was possible.

"What I told him today is -- the rumour he specifically asked me about, Sacramento for the fifth pick, I think, is what he asked me about -- and I said, 'No, that hasn’t been discussed. But I’m not going to look him in the eye and say, 'I'll never trade you.' I mean, we won 37 games, which was my other point to my team at the end of the year. So we’re going to look to do anything we can to get better. That’s just the reality of it. And I reiterated that to him tonight," said Van Gundy, who led the Orlando Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals.

Van Gundy revealed he wasn't dangling the players in the trade market would entertain all offers that come his way. "We're not out shopping any of our guys. But if you have a chance to do something that makes sense, you do it. We don’t have that right now."

Drummond averaged 13.6 points, 13.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks last season. A year earlier, Drummond averaged a career-high tally of 16.2 points, 14.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. When asked if the Andre Drummond trade chatter in February affected the young centre's play, Van Gundy said, "I think it would be fair to characterize it that way," Van Gundy said. "Now he’s been through it. Look, any of us would be bothered by it. But it’s a fact of life in the NBA."

The Pistons and Drummond agreed to a lucrative, five-year extension worth US$127 million (AU$167 million) ahead of the 2016-17 season. Drummond owns a Player Option ahead of the 2020-21 season. The team that trades for him would be guaranteed of his services for a minimum of three full seasons. Therefore, the centre still has good trade value and could fetch the Pistons a significant haul. Stay tuned for the latest Andre Drummond trade updates and NBA Trade News which will pick up steam over the next few weeks.