DETROIT — The Pistons got the deal done.
Pressed up against the NBA's trade deadline at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Pistons senior adviser Ed Stefanski pulled the trigger. He sent Andre Drummond to Cleveland for Brandon Knight, John Henson, and a 2023 second round pick.
The return was far from a king's ransom. But this trade was not about the return. This was all about the Pistons dumping Drummond's contract.
Ed Stefanski on the Pistons trade of Andre Drummond:
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) February 7, 2020
"Andre had the player option. If he opted in, then that would have brought back our rebuild another year." pic.twitter.com/ZPMDpP6BH5
"Andre had the player option. If he opted in, then that would have brought back our rebuild another year," Stefanski said on Friday.
The Pistons moved Drummond to clear cap space. They'll have a lot of it this summer.
"The hardest part in this job is to make trades of players. Obviously we love Andre. We've shown it over the years," Stefanski said. "A move was eventually gonna have to be made eventually to rebuild."
Ed Stefanski on the Pistons essentially dumping Andre Drummond's contract:
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) February 7, 2020
"People will say, 'Well, what did you get for Andre?' The player option, other teams didn't know if he was gonna opt in or if it was just gonna be the rest of the season." pic.twitter.com/diUTuMMhWO
Stefanski said injuries hurt the Pistons' plans this season. They thought their bench could help them make noise in the East this season. Blake Griffin is done for the season, Luke Kennard has been out extended time, and Reggie Jackson missed months.
"People will say, 'Well, what did you get for Andre?' The player option, other teams didn't know if he was gonna opt in or if it was just gonna be the rest of the season," Stefanski added.
