Cleveland Cavaliers: Time to trade Andre Drummond

Less than a year after acquiring the former All-Star, the Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly looking to trade Andre Drummond.

The Cleveland Cavaliers made a puzzling decision to trade for Andre Drummond at last year’s deadline. For a team already loaded with frontcourt talent such as Kevin Love, Larry Nance Jr. and Tristan Thompson – what use did the Cavs have for Drummond? It turns out, none.

The Cavaliers are already working to flip Drummond and his massive $28 million dollar contract. According to Evan Dammarell of Forbes, the big man is expected to pick up the final year of his contract in order to find a new home via trade. This should come as no surprise as Drummond is unlikely to find more money on the open market and it’s clear he doesn’t fit longterm in Cleveland.

But, why is that? The Cavs have ranked dead-last in Defensive Rating for two seasons in a row. Much of that coming from a lack of a rim protector. Shouldn’t Drummond be the answer to their issues in the paint?

In his eight games played for Cleveland, Drummond posted an unbelievably bad Defensive Rating of 120.0 – the worst mark of anyone on the roster by a wide margin. While this stat doesn’t always tell the full story, it was easy to see how Drummond lumbered around the defensive end of the floor without being truly engaged at any point.

Despite always being a reliable shot-blocker, Drummond hasn’t been a positive defender in quite some time. A lack of energy and timing has made him more of a detriment than a high-impact player on this side of the ball. Perhaps it’s hard for Drummond to feel motivated when playing for non-contending teams – but he has to share a portion of the blame for seldom being on winning squads.

Overall, the Cavs should have no problem with looking to trade Drummond. Don’t forget, the franchise only sacrificed a second round pick and two expiring contracts in Brandon Knight and John Henson to acquire the two-time All-Star. If they can then flip Drummond for even more assets it would be a win for Cleveland.

Sadly, the market might not be too hot for a player like Drummond. In a league where 3-point shooting has become crucial to success, it’s hard to imagine any competent franchises willingly taking on a near $30 million dollar contract for a non-shooting frontcourt player with a concerning history on defense. Dammarell made sure to mention in his report that a trade won’t be immediate – and the Cavs will be working throughout the year to find a suitable partner.

Yet, the ability to swallow an expiring contract in hopes of opening up some cap space next season is something that could intrigue teams across the league. Next year’s free agency class is going to be an exciting one with names like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George all able swap jerseys. Could this be enough for a franchise to take the hit and trade for Drummond?

Swapping Drummond will help the Cavaliers refocus their attention on the rebuilding process they are currently struggling with. Potential NBA Draft targets such as Obi Toppin and Onyeka Okongwu make even more sense for Cleveland if the frontcourt isn’t already stocked with players battling for minutes.

As for the current roster, the Cleveland Cavaliers would look much better if they can flip Drummond for some quality perimeter defenders. Boosting their defense on the wing should be a focal point this offseason as it is the key to patching up the inefficiencies of Darius Garland and Collin Sexton.

Considering they didn’t give up much to gain him, moving Drummond will be worthwhile for the Cavs if they can receive anything of value in return. A future draft pick or a young asset is all they need to feel satisfied with a potential transaction.