While Andre Drummond dominates the glass, his lack of defensive mobility could stall Philadelphia’s evolution. The Sixers must prioritize modern athleticism over familiar size to bolster their frontcourt.
Andre Drummond is still a useful big man.
Even at this stage of his career, Drummond remains one of the NBA’s best rebounders, a physical interior presence, and a veteran big man who can survive regular-season minutes. For a Philadelphia 76ers team that has often needed reliable size behind Joel Embiid, there is an understandable argument for bringing him back.
But understandable does not mean ideal.
Drummond averaged 6.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists this season, giving the Sixers exactly what he has given teams for most of his career: size, rebounding, and interior physicality. Few players can clean the glass and generate extra possessions like Drummond can, it is the skill that has defined him for over a decade.
There was also an unexpected wrinkle to his game this season: the jump shot. Drummond’s sudden willingness to shoot threes became one of the stranger and more entertaining developments of Philadelphia’s year. In November, he had made 10 of his first 23 three-point attempts through 17 games, after never making more than five threes in any of his first 13 NBA seasons.
If Drummond can at least make defenses think about him beyond the paint, it slightly changes how he can function in modern lineups. He does not have to develop a jumpshot at the level of Brook Lopez; even a passable jumpshot would change the way defenses play against him.
Still, the bigger question is fit. And that is where things become harder to justify.
The Sixers need a backup center who can cover some of Embiid’s current limitations. Embiid is still a great player, but at this stage of his career, especially with injuries piling up, Philadelphia could use a more mobile, athletic big man behind him. Someone who can switch more actions, defend in space, run the floor, and bring a different defensive look.
Drummond does not really do that. Like Embiid, he is most comfortable operating in drop coverage. He can protect the paint with size and positioning, but he is not the center who dramatically changes Philadelphia’s defensive flexibility.
If the Sixers run it back with Embiid, they should prioritize a backup big with mobility and defensive versatility. If they rebuild around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, the argument against Drummond becomes even stronger. A reset should be built around youth, athleticism, and pace. In that scenario, Philadelphia should develop younger frontcourt options or draft a more modern big man who fits the timeline.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected].
