Scott Long
3/8/21
Immediately after acquiring Jarrett Allen in the James Harden trade, it was clear that Andre Drummond’s time in Cleveland likely would soon be coming to an end. While Drummond continued to play at first, his minutes started to decline fast, and after a few games the Cavaliers decided to make Drummond a healthy scratch. The hope was sitting him would keep him healthy, allow his trade value to stay where it was at and let Allen develop, but things haven’t worked out that way on the Drummond front.
Drummond still is a member of the Cavaliers and is still not playing. However, Allen is thriving in his new role as the starting center for Cleveland, averaging 14.7 points per game, and 9.6 rebounds per game since being traded by the Brooklyn Nets. Allen has clearly established himself as the long-term answer at the center position for Cleveland, as he represents a younger and cheaper option then Drummond. Drummond’s contract expires after this season and he is set to become an unrestricted free agent, but very few teams appear interested in making a trade to rent Drummond for the remainder of the season. Much of the reason that his trade market has not heated up is due to the belief around the league that Drummond and the Cavaliers will ultimately agree to a buyout, which will make him a free agent anyway.
Brooklyn has been heavily linked to Drummond ever since they traded Allen, due to the void it created at center. The Nets are one of the favorites to make the NBA Finals, spearheaded by a Big-3 of Kevin Durant, Harden and Kyrie Irving, however many have pointed to the lack of an interior presence as one of the team’s possible downfalls. While defense was listed as an issue and still remains a weakness, depth signings like Andre Roberson and Iman Shumpert have helped shore up that area, as has improved play by Jeff Green and Bruce Brown. Blake Griffin was just signed by the Nets today, after he was bought out by the Detroit Pistons, which happened to be a situation very similar to the Drummond one. Griffin will add some more size and scoring to the Nets roster, but signing Drummond would help even more, adding an interior force who can provide strong defense as well as a dominant force on the glass on both ends, and some interior scoring.
While the Nets will undoubtedly be involved in the Drummond sweepstakes if he is in fact released, many believe that the Los Angeles Lakers would be the favorite to sign him. The Lakers were also rumored to be interested in Griffin but ultimately lost out on him to the Nets. With Anthony Davis still sidelined with an Achilles injury, the Lakers could use some more scoring in order to help LeBron James and company stay near the top of the Western Conference. Drummond would provide James with a strong second scoring option while Davis is out and would also give the Lakers a Big-3 of their own. Drummond and Davis would give Los Angeles arguably the best defensive front court in basketball, with both excelling as rim protectors, and as rebounders.
The Nets and Lakers are currently the two favorites to make and win the NBA Finals. While projections don’t mean they will make the Finals, it is no surprise that since these are the two biggest favorites, these are the two teams Drummond has been most heavily linked to, even though he has been linked to other teams such as the New York Knicks. Drummond would be a key addition to either team, and where he chooses to sign will likely have a huge impact on the NBA Playoffs, if he is in fact bought out by the Cavaliers.