The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Drummond excited to be part of Cavs’ future
The Cavaliers needed something at the trade deadline to get them flowing again. They were as stagnant as a summer pond in the heat of August for nearly a month, winning once in a 13-game span from Jan. 13 to Feb. 5.
Twelve trades were made around the 3 p.m. Feb. 6 deadline and, stunningly, one of the headline grabbers was made by the Cavaliers when they swapped guard Brandon Knight, center John Henson and a 2023 second-round draft choice to the Pistons for center Andre Drummond.
Cavaliers coach John Beilein had Drummond for one practice after the trade. He saw enough to make Drummond a starter Feb. 9 when the Cavaliers hosted the Clippers.
The crowd inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse gave Drummond a rousing cheer when the starting lineup was introduced and another cheer when he scored the Cavaliers’ first points of the game on a layup off the left side of the glass.
Drummond had 19 points and 14 rebounds, but the Clippers dominated the Cavs, 133-92.
Drummond was unhappy the Pistons traded him without first having the courtesy of informing him a trade was in the works. But he rebounded from that disappointment quickly, like he springs in the air for a stray shot. Drummond leads the NBA with an average of 15.8 rebounds a game.
“I’m just looking forward to playing in a Cleveland Cavalier jersey,” Drummond said after his first practice with the Cavs. “I’m excited to be here.
“For me, it’s just coming to an organization that wants me to be here. That’s really all it boils down to. My excitement is genuine. I’m really happy to be here. The record it doesn’t faze me, I know I can do a lot of things here to help us improve and get ready for the next season.”
This trade isn’t about 2019-20. The Cavaliers are dead last in the NBA East at 13-40 after being demolished by the Clippers.
But Coach John Beilein is already looking ahead to 2020-21, and Drummond will be an integral part of what lies ahead. He might even accelerate plans, but first things first. The Cavs have to convince him he would be an integral part of the rebuild and then they have to show him the money.
“In the last two days we’ve tried to assimilate as much as we can Andre Drummond with how we want to play right now because you can’t confuse everybody, and then try to make steps toward the future, too,” Beilein said in his pregame news conference.
“There’s genuine excitement in the locker room. The team is extremely receptive right now to this addition.”
Drummond can be a free agent after the current season ends or he can elect to accept his $28.7 million player option for 2020-21. The Cavs can try to sign him to a long-term contract — a move that makes sense with center Tristan Thompson on an expiring contract.
Drummond is 26. He is durable. He played in at least 78 games each season in Detroit between 2013-14 and 2018-19. He has played in 50 games this season.
Most importantly, he wants to be a Cavalier. Not every player in the NBA would say that under current circumstances.
“Definitely with the young guards (Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and Kevin Porter Jr.), I’m definitely looking forward to working with them and shedding some insight both on offense and defense as well,” Drummond said. “Getting some film on them, too, so I could sit down and really watch how they play so I know what I’m working with. I think I can really help them out.”
The game with the Clippers showed Drummond how bad the Cavaliers are. It will be a bonus for the Cavs if his attitude stays positive and he can influence the players around him.