Koby Altman’s comments highlight how deal for Andre Drummond was easy decision

Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman discussed why the team reportedly traded for Andre Drummond on a conference call on Friday, and that highlighted how it was an easy decision.

For a quick refresher, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired former Detroit Pistons big man Andre Drummond near Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, as was reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, and that was in exchange for expiring big John Henson and expiring guard Brandon Knight, along with a future second-round pick, as was reported by The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor.

Wojnarowski shortly thereafter reported that the second-rounder is a 2023 one, and is of the lesser between Cleveland’s and the Golden State Warriors’ and then reported that the Pistons in seemingly a corresponding move waived guard Tim Frazier.

More from King James Gospel

• 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
• The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
• 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
• 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
• This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead

The key in the deal, really, though, was that the Cavaliers gave up a lot less than I would’ve originally anticipated it could’ve maybe taken to acquire Drummond, who was a subject of rumors.

Drummond is a player that could opt into his $28.8 million player option for next season, and that’s realistically why the Pistons traded him for just that.

Though Drummond could theoretically opt out of his player option, given how so few NBA teams are projected to have notable cap space this summer, it makes sense that Drummond is expected to opt into his player option for 2020-21, as was reported by Sports Illustrated‘s Sam Amico.

If that’s the case, or if Drummond instead signs a new contract with the Cavs, of which could perhaps of the $29-30 million per year range, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Cavaliers will be projected to be “right at the cap.”

I initially thought, given that it was reported by The Athletic‘s Joe Vardon (subscription required) earlier this week that Thompson’s camp wanted the veteran big man moved by Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline, the expiring Thompson should’ve been traded.

Thompson is on track for having career-highs in points (11.9), rebounds (10.4) and assists (2.1) per game, per Basketball Reference, and I would’ve thought with Cleveland rebuilding, moving Thompson would’ve been a sensible decision, and I also thought with TT’s camp reportedly wanting him to be moved, that could’ve potentially led to locker room issues.

Now, with a two-time All-Star in Drummond on the roster that is currently leading the league in rebounding with 15.8 boards per game, per NBA.com, and has led the NBA in rebounding the last two seasons prior and is currently putting up a career-high 17.8 points per contest, Thompson is set for a reserve role the rest of 2019-20.

Clearly, though, with these comments by Thompson, the rest of this season there will not be any locker room issues, and TT, a true pro’s pro, seems really happy to be playing alongside a longtime foe.

Furthermore, according to NBA reporter Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, who previously reported on Thursday that TT is working with his agent, Rich Paul, on a buyout, Thompson will not be bought out, which has historically been the case with those represented by Paul/Klutch Sports Group.

Alright so at any rate, this Drummond deal, based on comments by general manager Koby Altman in a conference call with members of the local media on Friday highlight how this deal for Drummond with the Pistons was an easy decision, even with TT not being moved.

According to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, Altman’s ties to Drummond “go back a decade, when the two were together with USA Basketball.”

Fedor then essentially noted how when the opportunity came knocking for Altman and the front office to acquire Drummond for seemingly just two expirings and a future second-rounder, the Cavs “couldn’t pass it up.”

Altman hit on how the 6-foot-10, 279-pound former Piston is a “player we’ve always coveted,” as transcribed by Fedor.

Additionally, Altman touched on how if Drummond’s fit seemingly alongside pieces such as Kevin Love, Collin Sexton and Darius Garland works in the last two or so months of the season, the Cavaliers might want to make him a long-term piece as a player that can carve out space inside, rebound at an elite level and protect the rim.

Here’s more on that, as transcribed by Fedor.

"“I think in terms of his age and what he brings to our team, absolutely we consider him a potential long-term play,” Altman said. “Obviously, he has a player option that if he picks up, we think we’re in good shape to assume, in terms of our cap space. There’s no better money spent than Andre Drummond if he picks up his option, so with the player option or not, we have flexibility and optionality moving forward. I think in these next 30 games or so, I think he’s really going to enjoy playing with our guards and with Kevin Love as well and we’ll see. But with his age and what he brings to the table, I think for sure we have to consider him a long-term play.”"

This a sensible outlook by Altman and the Cleveland Cavaliers, because Drummond, with the presence he has near the rim on both ends of the floor, and with him being such a hard roller that sets great screens for perimeter players, just like Thompson, based on what was given up, acquiring a player of Drummond’s impact was an easy move.

Yes, the Cavs, who are just 13-39 on the season will probably have worse lottery odds for their pick, of which Cleveland gets a selection if it’s in the top 10, but given that the upcoming draft class is considered weak, and if this Drummond-Love frontcourt experiment works, who knows, maybe Love and Drummond play off each other really well? I believe they definitely could.

Maybe the Cavs look like a much more competitive team moving forward, too.

Maybe that results in Love, who reportedly preferred to be traded going into the deadline, per Fedor, wants to stick around, and the Cavaliers, who should still have a high 2020 NBA Draft selection, get a nice other piece on the wing, such as international prospect Deni Avdija, Auburn’s Isaac Okoro or Arizona’s Josh Green, and Garland and Sexton benefit from Drummond’s impact.

Or perhaps Drummond doesn’t even opt in, anyhow, Love eventually gets dealt, and Thompson, who is reportedly unlikely to sign another contract with the Cavs, according to Fedor, is gone, too, and then the Cavaliers are back to rebuilding with pieces such as Sexton, Garland, Cedi Osman and Larry Nance Jr. continuing to develop, and are all-in on asset accumulation.

Regardless, this was a very low-risk move by Altman and company in regards to Drummond, who again, is a legitimate rim protector Cleveland hasn’t had in years, and I’d think Cavs head coach John Beilein will be just fine having Andre carve out space for the guards, along with Kevin Porter Jr., too, to close out this season.

Based on Drummond’s production, and what Altman also said in terms of the character standpoint in his conference call of which Fedor detailed throughout his article, and how the Pistons’ players/coaching staff and their faithful seemed to adore him, getting the big guy for nothing of real long-term value was an easy decision.

As a side note, I was also a big fan of Cleveland reportedly signing Alfonzo McKinnie to a multi-year deal on Friday, of which Wojnarowski and The Athletic‘s Kelsey Russo, who noted the deal was for four-years and $7.2 million, reported.

Anyway, bravo, Cavs, and welcome to Cleveland, Dre!