Drummond bought out after trade deadline

The terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but Drummond was still owed over $11M of his contract.

The Cavaliers on March 26 reached a buyout agreement with center Andre Drummond one day after the NBA trade deadline passed.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Drummond was still owed $11,181,245 of his $28,751,775 2020-21 contract, basing that figure on a per-game basis. The Cavaliers (17-27) have 28 games left in the regular season.

“I want to thank Andre for his contributions to our team both on and off the court, and for his professionalism and mutual cooperation as we navigated through this process with him and his representation,” General Manager Koby Altman said in a statement. “We have great respect for Andre as a person and a player here in Cleveland and we are happy to have reached an outcome that is in the best interest of both Andre and our team. We wish him and his family all the best in the future.”

Drummond, 6-foot-11, 279 pounds, was acquired by the Cavaliers in a trade with Detroit in February 2020. In 33 games with the Cavs (all starts) over two seasons, he averaged 17.5 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks in 28.7 minutes per contest.

Drummond averaged 13.5 rebounds a game with the Cavaliers in 2020-21 before Alltman decided after a game in Portland on Feb. 12 not to play him again.

Drummond has to clear waivers, a process that takes 48 hours, before he can sign anywhere as a free agent. The Celtics, Hornets, Rockets, Lakers, Clippers and Knicks have shown interest in Drummond.

Insiders expect Drummond to choose the Lakers so he can join LeBron James and Anthony Davis to help the Lakers defend their 2020 NBA championship.

JIM MONE - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards shoots over the Cavaliers’ Andre Drummond (3) as Larry Nance Jr. looks on Jan. 31 in Minneapolis.