Ranking the top 50 NBA players of next season: 50-41

48. Andre Drummond

Yes, Andre Drummond’s $28 million salary for this one season is onerous. He will likely be traded or bought out near the deadline, if not before, because paying him that amount of money to trudge along with an aimless Cleveland Cavaliers team seem silly.

But Drummond took a step last season that many did not pay attention to because he was on a similarly lost Detroit Pistons team. He often had to play as the hub of the offense for an injury-riddled Pistons team. He is not that, but his numbers were impressive.

He averaged a career high in points (17.7 per game) while maintaining impressive numbers down the line of 15.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. He has led the league in rebounding three years in a row and four of the last five season.

His rebounding decreased significantly after his trade to the Cavaliers, given the crowding down low that the team has. For him to look like a player befitting this rank he will likely have to be moved elsewhere. This seems like an inevitability, as the Cavs should be looking to move on from one or both of Drummond and Kevin Love to build around their future core. Drummond has been the best rebounder of his generation. He deserves a chance to play somewhere where that is rewarded.