Andre Drummond will seemingly be back with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Recent reports have noted how Andre Drummond is, at this point, undecided about picking up his $28.7 million player option; and you can view those reported details here. To me, though, it still seems evident that while he’s not definitive lately, Drummond will eventually choose to exercise that and be back with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With how Drummond is not a floor spacing big, nor is he a key passing big, and/or switchable at times if needed defensively, I’d still think he eventually opts in.
Granted, as the reports at the above link demonstrated, the two sides are not close on extension talks. And I still greatly question if Drummond could maybe be a long-term piece for Cleveland.
Nonetheless, a recent interview with Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff makes it seem as if we should see Drummond back with the Cavaliers next season. That’d again seemingly relate to him picking up his player option at some point.
Bickerstaff, via Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor (subscription required), made it appear as if we’ll see Drummond again with the Cavs in that interview. Bickerstaff noted how his conversations with Dre have been “positive,” and have hit on some how Dre will be used.
“Indirectly,” there’s been talk between the two about “the future” and “what next year is going to look like,” said Bickerstaff, via Fedor. J.B. also said how Drummond “wants to be” with the Cavs in that conversation.
So to me, that sort of talk, while it’s not stating anything definitive, seems to reiterate how we should see more of Drummond with Cleveland.
Bickerstaff’s comments seemingly show how Drummond should be back with the Cavs.
Drummond is a quality interior player, and is fresh off having a career-best 17.7 points per game, most of which was with the Detroit Pistons before he was acquired via trade near the 2020 deadline. Drummond also led the league in rebounding for the fourth time with 15.2 boards per outing in 2019-20, to go with having 1.9 steals and 1.6 blocks per contest.
Dre’s a two-time All-Star as well in his eight seasons, and I can understand why Drummond hasn’t been committal when asked lately about his impending decision.
That said, Drummond is again, anything but a floor spacer, most notably, and you’d like to have seen progress some defensively to be more capable at times on the perimeter. That’s why I question if he can be a viable closing player.
In any case, even while the Cleveland Cavaliers could draft a big in the 2020 NBA Draft, Drummond was still a player the Cavs wanted to give some real time to maybe be a fit alongside Kevin Love, Darius Garland and others. And that was rightfully so.
Unfortunately, we saw a meniscule sample size with Drummond with the Cavs of just eight games, and in that realm, one can’t blame the squad for realistically being unsure if Drummond can be a long-term fit, especially via seemingly big-money deal.
However, based on comments in an interview with Fedor from Drummond about how he views Bickerstaff as an “awesome leader,” and Dre really has had a positive experience with the Cavs thus far, I’d still expect him to eventually opt in. And Bickerstaff’s comments, as was alluded to, via Fedor, further drive that home, from my view.
Now, if that were to play out, could Drummond eventually be dealt? One would think so, and Fedor reported that if the Cavs were to trade Dre, their “best chance” would be near the 2021 trade deadline, in the scenario he were to opt in.
Given the recent reports, of which again you can view in the first link above, I wouldn’t expect Drummond to be around long-term with the Cavs. But I still think Drummond/his representation will eventually realize that him being due for nearly $29 million next season by exercising his player option would be a no-brainer.
I wouldn’t expect him to get close to that sort of yearly salary from another team, for instance, if he were to opt out, given his limitations.
Albeit maybe if he does work out with the Cavaliers well after seemingly picking up his option and is around through next season, perhaps they look to extend him on a fairly reasonable deal next offseason?
I have my doubts, but these Bickerstaff comments regarding Drummond make it seem as though we’ll at least see him with the Cavs for a good portion of next season, from my perspective.