Cleveland Cavaliers center Andre Drummond to the Brooklyn Nets?
That appears to be the latest rumor after some speculation on potential buyout candidates from Zach Harper of The Athletic.
“Drummond is the most intriguing player on this list outside of maybe Derrick Rose,” Harper wrote. “A couple of league sources mentioned after the James Harden trade to Brooklyn that it’s a matter of time before (Drummond) finds his way into a buyout and joins up to give them help with the interior.”
Drummond has indeed been the subject of leaguewide scuttlebutt. He has a large expiring contract, he can been a major difference-maker, and by all accounts, extension talks with the Cavs have gone nowhere.
The status of Drummond came even more into question after the trade with Brooklyn delivered young center Jarrett Allen to Cleveland.
“Drummond is a difficult player to figure out because of how he wants to fit,” Harper wrote. “He’s obviously better than the Kendrick Perkins option the Thunder once had, but Drummond does require you to waste possessions throughout a game throwing it to him in the post. If you can get Drummond to run the floor, catch lobs, set screens, rebound the hell out of the ball and play defense, he’s a great option for someone like the Nets.”
All of that is true. The question is, would the Cavs really resort to writing the necessary (massive) check for a Drummond buyout? For now, you can count on that being an absolute last resort.
As FortyEightMinutes reported last week, the Nets are at least interested in Cavs backup center JaVale McGee, and a trade for McGee would be considerably more doable than any pathway to landing Drummond.
“Drummond’s trade market is tepid despite averaging 18.7 points, 14.6 boards — second in the NBA — and 1.1 blocks,”wrote Brian Lewis of the New York Post.
Either way, what happens next with Drummond and the Cavs is undoubtedly worth monitoring.
Most around the NBA seem to believe he will not be in Cleveland after the March 25 trade deadline. Whether his next stop is Brooklyn, well, that remains to be seen.
