Cavs should look to move Andre Drummond near 2021 deadline

With Andre Drummond reportedly likely to pick up his player option for next season, I would see the Cleveland Cavaliers moving Drummond near the 2021 trade deadline as the most logical approach.

We’re not yet sure how Andre Drummond is going to fit with the likes of Kevin Love and others on the Cleveland Cavaliers during the rest of the 2019-20 season.

While I would’ve thought that a legitimate rim protector and double-double machine in Drummond, though he’s a non-floor spacer, would’ve been seen as a high quality addition for Cavs head coach John Beilein to have at his disposal, it’s unclear as to whether or not Beilein will even coach Drummond any longer.

According to first a report on late Sunday from The Athletic‘s Shams Charania (also of Stadium), Kelsey Russo and Jason Lloyd (subscription required), it’s unlikely that Beilein will be back as Cleveland’s head coach next season and that the two could part ways very soon with Beilein resigning.

Along with that, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst echoed that news, and also noted that as of late Sunday, a decision about Beilein continuing to coach the Cavs or step down during the All-Star break would likely come in the next day or two, so one would assume, on Tuesday.

Beilein reportedly met with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert regarding his choice on Monday, too, but no decision has been made just yet.

Fittingly, on Tuesday evening, it was reported by Charania and Lloyd (subscription required), that the Cavs and Beilein are expected to parts way by Wednesday.

Associate head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who has previous head coaching experience with the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies, would step in as the interim head coach then, which would be sensible.

Wojnarowski reported that Bickerstaff, who was to be Beilein’s successor down the road, would take over as the full-time head coach and not just the interim, though.

Anyway, with how much turnover the Cavaliers have had with Beilein seemingly out soon, due to losses taking their toll on him this season and the 67-year-old not connecting with his players, I would see Cleveland holding on to Drummond until near the 2021 trade deadline as the most logical approach.

Drummond is reportedly likely to pick up his $28.8 million player option for next season, by the way, according to Sports Illustrated‘s Sam Amico, and though he hasn’t been a Cav for long, I’d prefer Cleveland keep his veteran shot blocking and interior scoring presence around until next deadline to help the progression of young pieces such as Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and others.

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With Cleveland seemingly having a high possibility of dealing Kevin Love this summer, which should be more feasible because of the weak free agent pool, and with Tristan Thompson, the Cavs’ primary leader right now, being a prime sign-and-trade candidate, as Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca recently highlighted, Drummond I believe could slide in as a key leader going into next season.

With Bickerstaff likely taking the reigns, even though it’s not certain Drummond will pick up his option, keeping the two-time All-Star, who is only 26, seems logical going into near next year’s deadline if he does pick that option up.

Drummond is averaging a career-best 17.7 points per game in 2019-20, as indicated by Basketball Reference, and he’s likely going to capture his fourth NBA rebounding title in what will only be eight career seasons.

Furthermore, along with the big man averaging a solid 1.7 blocks per game this year, he’s third in the league in total steals, according to Basketball Reference. To me, even while the Cavaliers could select a good defensive wing prospect in the 2020 NBA Draft, such as Auburn’s Isaac Okoro, or a high-floor two-way 4 such as Dayton’s Obi Toppin (maybe to be a developmental Love replacement), having Drummond around for a good chunk of next season should aid Cleveland’s overall team defense.

His presence at 6-foot-10 with very good instincts and timing should mitigate some of the mistakes made on/off-ball by the young perimeter pieces, also factoring in Kevin Porter Jr. and hopefully, Dylan Windler, who is reportedly missing all of this season due to a stress reaction in his left leg, next year.

Plus, even if Cleveland decides to eventually draft a developmental rim protector such as USC’s Onyeka Okongwu this summer, having the veteran presence of Drummond, who has come a long way with his skill as an interior offensive player on the low block, could serve as a mentor for the better part of next season for Okongwu. From there, Okongwu could slide into a starting role on a rebuilding Cleveland team post-deadline next year.

Nonetheless, a former NBA general manager recently told Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz that he sees Drummond being with the Cavs much shorter than that.

"“I don’t think [Drummond and the Cavs] will last long,” one former NBA general manager said. “I could see them trading him to a team this summer if he agrees to pick up his option. They could also do a sign-and-trade if he agrees to a new long-term deal. I don’t think he’ll be in Cleveland for long.”"

With the lack of cap space for most other NBA teams this summer, however, it’s difficult to see Drummond, who would realistically command a much, much higher contract number than Thompson, be signing a long-term deal.

Factoring in that, I agree with Swartz, who had to more add in relation to Drummond being a key trade piece for the Cleveland Cavaliers at the 2021 deadline.

"“Beyond his production (17.7 points, 15.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 33.4 minutes per game), Drummond could carry immense value as an expiring $28.8 million contract next year. Teams will be looking to clear cap space before the summer of 2021, when stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George (among others) can all become free agents.While the Pistons were seeking salary relief this summer, the Cavs are believed to want Drummond to pick up his option so they can use him as a trade chip next season.”"

General manager Koby Altman recently hit on how Drummond could potentially be a long-term fit with the Cavaliers, but I’m skeptical that the Cavs really would sign Drummond, a non-floor spacer in today’s league, to a big new contract with the team still not really all that much on the tracks in terms of their full-rebuild.

That being said, with the squad again likely having a new head coach next season with the recent reports involving Beilein, who signed a four-year deal with a fifth-year option last May, likely done by Wednesday, having a double-double player and rim runner/protector the team can count on a nightly basis would seem to be a key trade chip near the next deadline.

That’s why I believe a logical approach for the Cavs and Altman, with Drummond seemingly being the type of player that’s going to emerge as a leadership presence, too, would be moving Dre near the 2021 deadline.

The Cavaliers’ primary focus in this rebuild is asset accumulation and developing their young players, and with Drummond realistically being able to have most of next season to keep up/maybe even exceed his current production if he picks up his player option, Cleveland should look to move him near the next deadline, and potentially acquire an additional draft pick or two in what is set up to be a deep and loaded 2021 NBA Draft.

If the Cavs had that approach, they could fully capitalize on the centers’ trade value and would have Drummond stick around a good while to help in the locker room and help ease in a new head coach, whereas to me, a sign-and-trade already this offseason would be premature, and lose out on Drummond as a player that could be a key leader for much of next year alongside Larry Nance Jr., too.