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The Los Angeles Lakers are back at the Staples Center on Sunday night as they host a Detroit Pistons team that appears to be on the precipice of major changes to their franchise.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported before the weekend that the Pistons and Atlanta Hawks had engaged on trade talks centered on long-time center Andre Drummond. Drummond is the NBA leader in rebounds, both offensive and defensive, but on the heels of being a free agent this summer, it appears the Pistons may be ready to move on after employing Drummond for the past eight seasons.
The Pistons on the court won the other night against the Golden State Warriors but they’ve struggled mightily thanks to injuries to key players. Blake Griffin has played in only 18 of Detroit’s 36 games this season as he continues to manage knee issues.
Outside of Drummond, the most productive player on the Pistons is Derrick Rose. Rose is averaging nearly 17 points and six assists off the Pistons bench. His matchup against Rajon Rondo on the Lakers’ second unit is something the Lakers will need to keep a watchful eye on, given the struggles of Rondo and the Lakers bench as of late.
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