It seems like lightyears ago that the Cleveland Cavaliers were 3-0 and feeling good about where the 2020-21 NBA season could head. Then, Kevin Love suffered an injury and things have unraveled since.
Now, the Cavaliers are second to last in the Eastern Conference with a record of 12-21. They’re struggling to consistently score but cannot consistently slow down opponents from doing so. That is a recipe for disaster.
Cleveland looks like one of the teams trending toward being sellers at the NBA trade deadline. One player we know they will be parting ways with is center, Andre Drummond, who has been one of the most frequently mentioned names in NBA trade rumors.
Drummond and the team agreed that he would not play as they determined his playing future. It will assuredly come in another jersey, it is just a matter of whether the move will come via trade or Drummond signing somewhere after he is bought out.
It is no secret that Drummond will be playing elsewhere, so why is it taking so long for him to find a new team? Chris Fedor on The Hoop Collective Podcast gave some insight as to why the Cavaliers are taking their time in finding a new home for the former UConn product.
“There are two things that I keep hearing. One: Cavs are under no delusion of what they’re going to get back for Andre. That’s why they weren’t worried about losing leverage. Like it’s not like they go from getting a first-round pick a high first-round pick. And now because they’ve made this decision to sit him, his value goes to like to second-rounders. His value is what it is.”
The Cavaliers acquired Drummond from the Detroit Pistons for John Henson, Brandon Knight and a 2023 second-round pick. Getting a second-round pick for him, as pointed out by Fedor, is what the Cavaliers are expecting. However, the longer they wait, that offer could improve some.
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Desperate teams will sometimes make moves in a vacuum. A team could offer an additional pick or maybe a player that hasn’t worked out yet if they get antsy. There is no downside to Cleveland waiting it out, as Drummond isn’t even with the team.
If a team wants Andre Drummond and doesn’t believe they will be able to land him as a free agent after a buyout, they will pay what they need to get him. The Cavaliers have no problem playing the waiting game and holding out hope they get even a single future asset to replace the one they sent to Detroit for him last year.
