You may have noticed your life suddenly become bleaker recently. Perhaps a strange sense of ennui filled your soul. You not have known why, but I am here to inform you. Andre Drummond's back injury has turned out to be somewhat serious. He will miss four-to-six weeks with a stress fracture of the fifth lumbar vertebra.
This is a huge bummer. Now, Drummond won't be able to partake in All-Star Weekend and, more importantly, won't be able to play, you know, actual games that count for a while either. He has been the brightest spot this season. His numbers as a rookie have been tremendous. His ceiling is so high. Without him, the Pistons will be hurt quite a bit. They don't really have much in the way of backup big men. Get ready for the Slava Kravstov Era people.
However, in the end, this isn't a terribly serious injury. Drummond will return sometime this season, perhaps in some sort of bionic fashion. Hopefully the Pistons are very careful with him. Without Drummond the next month or so, Detroit's slim playoff chances are gone. Now, this season is just a wash. It's time to totally focus on next year. This offseason they will have plenty of cap space, but also now with some more losses likely to mount on their record they'll have a better shot at a good draft pick, which can help.
Drummond is a lot of fun to watch, and not having him around is a shame, but he's young and his best years are ahead of him. Detroit doesn't need to rush him back, in fact they can ease him back, and with a high draft pick added next year to Drummond, Greg Monroe, and the still to be at All-Star Weekend Brandon Knight, they will be even better. Someday these black clouds with part and the Sun will shine once more.
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