As FortyEightMinutes reported last week, it appears the Los Angeles Lakers are hoping Cleveland Cavaliers center Andre Drummond hits the buyout market.
Per Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the Lakers are interested in DeMarcus Cousins, “but Drummond is their preference if he gets bought out.”
Drummond is currently sitting on the sideline as the Cavs try to reach a resolution. The Cavs will first seek to trade Drummond, so they can get a little more than just cap relief in return.
But as O’Connor mentioned and FortyEightMinutes has repeatedly reported, there remain serious doubts that the Cavs will be able to find a suitable deal, given Drummond’s expiring $28.7 million contract.
“If Drummond does end up hitting the buyout market, consider the Lakers and Nets as the two favorites to add him,” O’Connor wrote.
For the Lakers, adding Drummond as the main man in the middle would be a no-brainer.
He is averaging 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds in 25 games with the Cavs, and being teammates with LeBron James has a way of making every player a natural fit. Drummond would also make quite a pairing with power forward Anthony Davis once Davis returns from injury.
Meanwhile, Cousins is an unrestricted free agent after parting ways with the Houston Rockets. He is another possibility for the Nets, who just added veteran power forward Blake Griffin.
The New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls are among the others with interest in Drummond.
But the only way for opposing teams to guarantee themselves Drummond is to make a trade. In that sense, the Cavs may have some leverage on what happens next.
The NBA trade deadline is March 25.
