Drummond, Cavaliers reach buyout
CLEVELAND — Center Andre Drummond is now a free agent and can sign with a contending team after reaching a buyout with the Cavaliers. Drummond, who hasn’t played since mid-february, began negotiating terms of the buyout with the Cavs on Thursday after the club didn’t trade the 27-year-old before the deadline.
The agreement ends a partnership that became awkward when the Cavs benched Drummond to give young center Jarrett Allen more playing time.
Despite losing his role with the team, Drummond, a two-time All-star with Detroit before coming to Cleveland last year, stayed engaged with his teammates and didn’t become a distraction. He often sat among the Cavs coaches during games, offering tips and encouragement.
One of the NBA’S top rebounders and a proven scorer, Drummond, who was under contract for $28.7 million this season, is expected to draw interest from several teams, including the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers.
He averaged 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds in 25 games before the Cavs decided to give Allen the bulk of playing time.
Jackson Jr. set for late-april return
The Memphis Grizzlies expect forward Jaren Jackson Jr. back in the lineup by the end of April, nearly nine months after he hurt his left knee in the NBA bubble.
Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman updated Jackson’s status after Memphis made no moves at the trade deadline. It’s the first concrete return date for the third-year player.
“At this point, he is on track to return in April by the end of the month, and we can’t wait to have him out there,” Kleiman said. “But Jaren has made very significant strides, encouraged by the progress he’s made, and we just can’t wait to have him back on the court with us.”
Jackson tore the meniscus in his left knee in his third game in the NBA bubble last summer, and both he and the Grizzlies chose to do a full repair rather than try to trim the meniscus for a faster return. Kleiman said that was done for the long-term of the fourth overall pick in the 2018 draft.
Hornets hopeful Ball recovers fast
Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak says he’s not ruling out Lamelo Ball returning this season.
Kupchak says the rookie point guard will be reevaluated in “four or five weeks” after fracturing his right wrist on March 20.
Kupchak confirmed that the Hornets initially thought Ball’s injury was season-ending, but an MRI later revealed more details and created some optimism about a possible earlier return.
“What (the surgery) doesn’t do is preclude him from coming back this season,” Kupchak said.
Prior to the injury Ball was considered a frontrunner to win NBA rookie of the year honors.