Andre Drummond

Two big men on the opposite ends of the NBA standings face similar decisions when the offseason rolls around.

Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers center Andre Drummond have player options for the 2020-21 season on their respective contracts.

Davis is in a more enviable position than Drummond since the Lakers sit atop the Western Conference and he has formed a solid partnership with LeBron James. It would make sense for both parties to be interested in a long-term deal given the success of the team with the two superstars on the roster.

Drummond was shipped from one struggling team to another when the Cavaliers acquired him from the Detroit Pistons at the trade deadline. Cleveland's young core would benefit from having the league's top rebounder on the roster, and given the salary-cap limits across the league, Drummond could be better positioned to hit the free-agent market in 2021.

                       

Latest NBA Rumors

Anthony Davis

According to Kyle Goon of the Orange County Register, the foundation is in place for Davis to spend the next few years of his career in Los Angeles:

"Most in league circles believe that work is largely done – that L.A. is where Davis wanted to be, LeBron James is the teammate he wanted to have, and that the Lakers have done enough to sell him on a future with the franchise."

Davis has a $28.7 million player option on his contract for the 2020-21 campaign, and he could sign a long-term deal at some point as well.

The former New Orleans Pelicans center is averaging 26.7 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while shooting 51.1 percent from the field in his first season with the Lakers. Davis' scoring presence combined with James' all-around ability pushed L.A. to the top of the West and has the team in title contention when the season resumes.

Even if the Lakers do not come away with the Larry O'Brien Trophy this season, they are in position to contend for championships in every year of Davis' stay in Los Angeles.

The prospect of winning a title and playing with one of the game's best-ever players are some of the many factors that could convince Davis to stay with the Lakers. The team is going to have to dish out a significant amount of money to retain the 27-year-old, but it showed it was willing to take risks to win titles by shipping most of its young core to New Orleans to acquire him.

The worst-case scenario for the franchise is for Davis to opt in next season, not discuss a long-term extension and hit the free-agent market in 2021.

Given how well Davis has meshed with his teammates and the prospect of an extended championship window, the center should be convinced to stay with Los Angeles.

                      

Andre Drummond

Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor reported that Drummond is "most likely" picking up the $28.7 million player option on his contract.

Playing for a team at the bottom of the Eastern Conference is not the ideal situation for the 26-year-old, but it may be the best solution for the 2020-21 campaign. The limited amount of salary-cap space across the league could restrict the number of suitors for the league's leader in rebounds per game.

If he remains with the Cavs for a full season, Drummond could boost his free-agent stock when the market improves in 2021.

In addition to being at the top of the rebounding chart, Drummond has increased his scoring output over the past two seasons. He averaged between 13 and 16 points per game during his first six seasons in Detroit and has increased his totals to more than 17 points per contest in the past two campaigns.

Were that trend to continue, Drummond would provide a scoring force down low for a young Cavs team and boost his stock for when his contract runs out.

Cleveland is not expected to experience a meteoric rise in the East, but with Drummond, Kevin Love, the young guard pair of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland and an early lottery pick in tow, it has an opportunity to improve next season.

                             

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from Basketball Reference. Contract information obtained from Spotrac.

Cleveland Cavaliers center Andre Drummond is reportedly considered "likely" to pick up his $28.8 million player option for the 2020-21 season. 

Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported Drummond is leaning toward staying in Cleveland, though the team has been given no assurances. The Cavs acquired Drummond at the trade deadline for the surprisingly paltry sum of Brandon Knight, John Henson and a future second-round pick.

Drummond averaged 17.5 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in eight games with the Cavs before the NBA season was indefinitely postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic. He spent his first seven and a half seasons in Detroit, making two All-Star teams and earning a third-team All-NBA selection in 2016.

Given his accomplishments with the franchise, it was a surprise for the Pistons to essentially salary dump him to avoid paying the option. 

That said, it's understandable given the virtual certainty of him opting in. Drummond has attempted to improve his jumper, but he's still mostly a relic as the proliferation of the three ball continues across the NBA. He's hit 15 threes in his NBA career, though four came in eight games with Cleveland. 

There is also massive uncertainty regarding the NBA's financial state because of the pandemic. The number of teams with available cap space this summer was already minimal, and most that had it are rebuilding and/or hoarding it for a loaded 2021 free-agent class. Should the NBA be forced to cancel games because of the pandemic, thus losing the television and gate revenue, it will affect the cap. 

It's possible the NBA and NBPA will agree to a level of cap smoothing to help the process, but the 2020 offseason is not an ideal time to become a free agent.

Drummond, like many others, will almost certainly lean into the certainty of a guaranteed contract umber rather than wade into free agency with so much up in the air. 

Several professional athletes have teamed up to help students through the coronavirus pandemic.

Andre Drummond and audio company JBL announced Sunday they will donate headphones to schools in the Cleveland and Detroit areas to support those using virtual classes to continue their education despite shutdowns nationwide, per Chris Fedor of cleveland.com.

Drummond, who split this season between the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers, explained the decision on his Instagram account.

"Life has changed a lot in the last month, including students," Drummond said. "So I'm teaming up with my partners at JBL to provide kids in need in both Cleveland and Detroit with headphones so they can stay focused in a new learning environment and stay successful in the classroom. We can beat this together."

Julius Randle of the New York Knicks and New York Yankees star Aaron Judge are also set to help donate headphones to those in the New York area, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.

Fedor reported other JBL brand ambassadors will join in to help their local fans, including Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo, Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine.

Schools around the country have been closed to help slow the spread of COVID-19, with New York City mayor Bill de Blasio announcing schools in the city will remain closed the rest of the year, via Nicole Acevedo and Dan Good of NBC News. Gov. Andrew Cuomo contradicted him, but there is still uncertainty.

Students have had to adjust to e-learning, but the donations from athletes will make things easier for those in need.

Patrick Beverley and Andre Drummond treated fans to a potential Eastern Conference playoffs preview in the second round of the NBA 2K Players Tournament on Thursday.

The 14th-seeded Patrick Beverley, who is never one to back down from getting into his opponent's head, chose the Philadelphia 76ers with one of Drummond's big-man rivals in Joel Embiid. Beverley dictated the tempo in the second half against the sixth seed's Milwaukee Bucks on the way to a 69-62 victory.

Despite the result in the second-round clash, the Cleveland Cavaliers center set the tone in the early going.

.@patbev21 tellin @AndreDrummond to stop talkin to the refs 😂#NBA2KTourney pic.twitter.com/e22nwme2FJ

— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) April 10, 2020

"What is he doing with the ball" 🤣

Pat Bev out here straight clampin pic.twitter.com/wQX1UNgPMm

— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) April 10, 2020

The Drummond-controlled Giannis Antetokounmpo caught fire in the first quarter as Milwaukee built a double-digit lead, but Beverley switched his strategy and started attacking the basket with Ben Simmons.

That, along with an improved effort on the defensive side that included a number of fouls to stop transition opportunities, helped the 76ers battle back and take the lead until Eric Bledsoe drilled a buzzer-beating three to give Milwaukee a one-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Pat Bev had to make sure his controller wasn't broken after Drummond ends the 3rd quarter on a buzzer beater 🤣#NBA2KTourney pic.twitter.com/S33hbjOVxr

— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) April 10, 2020

From there, Beverley went to work in the post with Embiid and used an inside-outside attack to seize the advantage and extend it in the final minutes. Not even a late flurry from three-point range for Drummond's Bucks was enough to swing the tide in crunch time.

"This man cold at defense IRL and in the video game" 🥶🔒#NBA2KTourney pic.twitter.com/7FrDoeCksQ

— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) April 10, 2020

Just like he does on the court, Beverley didn't miss an opportunity to continue chirping as he pulled away into the semifinals.

The LA Clippers guard will face Deandre Ayton in the semifinals after the Phoenix Suns big man defeated Trae Young.

Some people think Michael Jordan is the GOAT. Some people think LeBron James is the GOAT.

Others think it is Alex Caruso.

Cleveland Cavaliers big man Andre Drummond asked former Los Angeles Lakers center DeMarcus Cousins why so many people love Caruso while they were facing each other in the opening round of the NBA 2K Players Tournament, and the latter had a simple explanation.

"AC the GOAT … that's it," Cousins said.

Boogie said Caruso's the 🐐 @ACFresh21 #NBA2KTourney pic.twitter.com/cCSjN4E4ci

— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) April 6, 2020

It's no secret that Caruso is a fan favorite in Los Angeles, often drawing the biggest cheers of players not named LeBron or Anthony Davis. He even shocked the King himself with his jump during a game against the Golden State Warriors:

ALEX CARUSO HAD LEBRON SHOOK 😱#LakeShow pic.twitter.com/SMCULdlfcp

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 5, 2019

Of course, there may be a reason Drummond was confused about all of the hype.

After all, Caruso once tried Drummond at the rim, and it didn't go well for the Lakers guard:

Caruso tried Drummond at the rim 👀 https://t.co/i6Reg5AAD9

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 6, 2020

Drummond was in full control during that play, much like he was Sunday in a 101-49 victory over Cousins. The only difference is he was controlling the Lakers in the virtual world, while Cousins couldn't keep up with the Brooklyn Nets.           

Andre Drummond has never advanced in the playoffs during his NBA career, but he officially has in the virtual world.

The Cleveland Cavaliers big man used the Los Angeles Lakers and defeated DeMarcus Cousins with ease in Sunday's opening round of the single-elimination NBA 2K Players Tournament. Cousins used the Brooklyn Nets but was unable to stop Drummond's offensive attack in a convincing 101-49 defeat.

The 16-player bracket was seeded based on the players' NBA 2K ratings, and Drummond was the No. 6 seed to Cousins' No. 11 seed.

Drummond at the 🚨

Tag a friend that plays 2K like @AndreDrummond pic.twitter.com/2WywBStuCu

— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) April 6, 2020

.@KDTrey5 playin both ends for Boogie 👊#NBA2KTourney pic.twitter.com/LCz3hoAdaY

— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) April 6, 2020

Drummond looked like a favorite from the start, jumping out to a 14-2 lead and extending the lead in a dominant second half. Cousins had no answer for his former Lakers teammates, as LeBron James ran the offense while Anthony Davis fittingly busted out some impressive moves in the paint during the big-man showdown.

Cousins did his best with Kevin Durant to counter the dynamic duo, but he, like many teams across the league in the actual NBA, couldn't string together enough stops against the Purple and Gold to keep it close.

There was some strategy involved for each player, as they could only use the team they chose once in the entire tournament.

Drummond thought about using his own Cavaliers before switching it up and taking the safe route with one of the league's best teams:

Drummond said he was gonna rock with Cleveland then switched up lol@AndreDrummond ➡️ @Lakers @boogiecousins ➡️ @BrooklynNets pic.twitter.com/oM28XzSrIx

— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) April 6, 2020

He will have the NBA's other 29 teams at his disposal in the second round when he faces No. 14 seed Patrick Beverley. If the opening round was any indication, that should be a closer matchup after the Los Angeles Clippers guard handled Hassan Whiteside in his first game.

Two-time All-Star Andre Drummond was having a whirlwind 2019-20 season before the NBA suspended games because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Drummond began the year as one of the key players for the Detroit Pistons, who made the playoffs last season for the second time since 2009-10. The 26-year-old was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Feb. 6, leaving behind the franchise he spent the first eight seasons of his career with. 

Sitting down for a Bleacher Report AMA, Drummond answered questions about his move to Cleveland, being part of the successful lineage of Connecticut Huskies players in the NBA, uncertainty about the NBA season right now and much more. 

@_5williams5: How did you feel after getting traded to the Cavaliers?

I was fine, just a new chapter of my life I have to get adjusted. New experience for me. I'd never been traded before, but the transition has been great.

    

@fitzmagic14: What are your thoughts on the Cavs and the new coaching staff?

Our team is really good. We are starting to get healthy. Outstanding coaching staff. (John) Beilein was a great coach, JB (Bickerstaff) is a hell of a coach, his basketball mind is incredible.

        

@uhhhh: Would you consider re-signing with the Cavs after the season?

Right now my focus is staying healthy, that's a long ways away. I love being in Cleveland, and I'll come up with a decision when time is right.

       

@BostonDynasty524: Who is on your all-time UConn starting 5 not including yourself?

Kemba (Walker), Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton, (Emeka) Okafor, (Hasheem) Thabeet.

@ded: From Connecticut here. What was your best memory while you were playing at UConn?

The fanbase. I built such a relationship with the fanbase and the kids around campus. I miss how much we were a family. I still talk to my classmates.

       

@jl2626: Favorite March Madness memory or moment?

Kemba Walker's whole year, that was my favorite moment watching him play.

      

@DanK_Eric: What are you doing in quarantine?

Just doing a couple of exercises, getting better at 2K, kinda suck at it, spending time with my family. 

      

@natgee: How would you describe your thoughts on how the rest of the season should play out?

I don't even know. I know how big a deal it is. Safety is key not just for us but for everyone. We shouldn't play until things are right.

      

@EbeConfetti: Any memories playing against VC or Kobe?

I've had a chance to build a relationship with Vince... With Kobe, he always had one-liners to keep me motivated. An incredible basketball mind but a better person. His message will live forever.

      

@Miles27: We miss you in Detroit. Can you reflect on your time here in a few brief statements?

My time in Detroit was incredible, being drafted by a team and them sticking with me. I bought a house there so it will always be home. Good things come to an end, and we both had to move on.

       

@oliverclothesoff: What are the best shows to watch while in quarantine?

I randomly started watching The Circle yesterday. I was making jokes about it, but the show is pretty cool. Breaking Bad, Love is Blind.

    

@Msilver13: When you were younger who was your idol nba player?

Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaq and Dwight.

      

@Msilver13: If you could compare yourself to any NBA player in history, who would it be?

Bill Russell or Karl Malone.

      

@BS25PHI21: Are you and Embiid good now?

We never had a problem, it's basketball I talk a lot of trash. He does it on social media, I do it in the game.

      

@theMADMANN: If you could play for any team, (past or present), what team would it be and why?

The Bulls team with Jordan, Pippen. Just to see the energy playing with them.

     

@AMcGee15: What NBA record would you most like to break?

20-20 record.

      

@Cdawg123: What is your best and worst moment in the NBA?

Every time I step on the court... Worst moment is when I get dunked on, it lingers.

           

@tensecondhooper: Funniest locker room moment?

When Tobias popcorned Stanley Johnson's car. He was a rookie and he wasn't following instructions. I went out before film and filled up the car with popcorn, butter and salt.

        

@cbal: If you could play anyone past or present one-on-one who would it be?

Shaq for sure or Wilt Chamberlain.

      

@BronGOAT23: Who is the player you'd like to dunk on most?

Bradley Beal. Brad and I are childhood friends so I want to get him back.

     

@LAXXPLAYER: Any tips on making it to the NBA?

Believe in yourself.

       

@Ril_Berry: Who would win a 3-point contest: You or Steven Adams?

I would definitely win.

      

@tarantino1: What arena has the best environment in the NBA?

Cleveland, but outside of hometown, I'd say OKC, GSW, Boston.

      

@ForRudy23: Do you have one player or team that you just love to beat?

Nah, I just enjoy being the underdog. I enjoy beating the most talked about teams, so right now, the Lakers.

      

@Celtics4Lifer: What is the secret to your rebounding success?

Want to get it more.

       

@Caispearman03: What's your favorite sneaker in your closet?

Jordan 10s.

     

@PhillyBoul: What's your favorite cereal?

Reese's Puff.

       

@Rabih: What's your favorite cheat meal?

Buffalo Wild Wings, anything from there i go crazy for.

      

@Arrow30: Who is your favorite superhero?

Thor.

      

@AlexLarsen Which spot had the best food in Storrs?

Chicken spot right below thirsty's @larsen.

@Lacas: How's Cleveland, rate it 1-10

9.

      

@greenjellyguy: What your favorite song right now?

Oprah's Bank Account by Lil Yachty.

      

Drummond had eight games with the Cavs to show off his skills before the NBA season was suspended. He was performing right in line with his career numbers, averaging 17.5 points and 11.1 rebounds for his new team. 

The Cavaliers are still playing the long game in their rebuilding effort, but the potential to have Drummond in the paint with the emergence of Collin Sexton and potential of 2019 first-round pick Darius Garland offers the franchise hope for a turnaround soon.   

Cleveland Cavaliers center Andre Drummond is out for Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers due to a left calf strain, according to Serena Winters of NBC Sports Philly.

The Cavaliers took a swing at the trade deadline by acquiring Drummond from the Detroit Pistons. He's played only five games with his new team, averaging 12.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.

Injuries haven't been a problem for Drummond since his rookie season in 2012-13. He missed 22 games that first year because of a back issue. 

Since that time, Drummond only missed 10 games over the next six seasons. He also missed some time in 2019-20, including two after losing a tooth and suffering a gash in his lip during a Jan. 20 loss to the Washington Wizards. 

This has been a frustrating season for the Cavaliers, who have reportedly had issues behind the scenes with players being unhappy with first-year coach John Beilein, who stepped down this month. Kevin Love has acted out on and off the court to express his frustration with the organization. 

Cleveland, which owns the third-worst record (16-41) in the NBA, was hoping Drummond could stabilize a franchise that is building around young guards Collin Sexton and Darius Garland. 

Until Drummond is able to return, new head coach J.B. Bickerstaff will turn to Tristan Thompson as his primary center. 

Cleveland Cavaliers center Andre Drummond denied a report that he has a negative opinion of the atmosphere surrounding the Cavs currently.

Shams Charania, Jason Lloyd and Joe Vardon of The Athletic reported that Drummond told his teammates that the situation in Cleveland is worse than the one he left with the Detroit Pistons. Drummond was traded from Detroit to Cleveland for John Henson, Brandon Knight and a 2023 second-round pick two weeks ago.

Charania, Lloyd and Vardon also reported Drummond said that his feelings regarding the Cavs will play a role in whether he exercises his $29 million player option for next season. However, Drummond denied the report on Twitter:

That’s a lie... lol but anything for a headline huh? Never said anything of that sort

— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummond) February 19, 2020

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Cavaliers have negotiated a settlement with head coach John Beilein, which will end his tenure after less than one season. J.B. Bickerstaff will take over as the new head coach.

Detroit essentially gave up Drummond for pennies on the dollar due to his contract situation. The Pistons were unwilling or unable to sign him to a long-term extension, and he could have potentially left for free agency after the season.

Cleveland may be in the same position, but it gave up so little to get Drummond that it may have been worth the risk regardless.

At 14-40, the Cavs are the worst team in the Eastern Conference, and they are 3.5 games behind a Pistons team that traded Drummond and is without injured forward Blake Griffin as well.

The Cavs lured Beilein away from the University of Michigan during the offseason in hopes that he could help turn the franchise around, but he didn't even make it through one year of the five-year deal he signed.

Cleveland reached four straight NBA Finals from 2014-15 through 2017-18 and won a championship in 2016, but following the departures of Kyrie Irving and then LeBron James, the Cavs have been one of the NBA's worst teams.

Despite leading the Cavaliers to their first championship, head coach Tyronn Lue was fired after an 0-6 start last season. Larry Drew went 19-57 in his place and the Cavs finished 19-63 on the year. With the departure of Beilein, the Cavs are now on their fourth different head coach in the past two seasons.

Drummond is a two-time All-Star who is on pace for his fourth career rebounding title. Statistically, this has been the best season of his career with averages of 17.7 points, 15.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.7 blocks per game.

With Drummond, the young guard duo of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, and five-time All-Star forward Kevin Love, the Cavs have some pieces in place that could make them competitive in the Eastern Conference under the right leadership.

Given how many coaching changes the Cavs have been through over the past two years, however, selling Drummond on stability and a chance to contend for a playoff spot next season will be difficult.

CLEVELAND — On the day of the NBA trade deadline, Kevin Love got a phone call from Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman.

In what was expected to be a call notifying Love of a trade out of Cleveland—a move he wanted—Altman had far different news.

Love was staying, and Detroit Pistons two-time All-Star center Andre Drummond was joining him. It was a trade no one saw coming, including the players themselves.

"I think it was a shock for Andre, and rightfully so," Altman said.

Love, 31, and Tristan Thompson, 28, are productive veterans with championship experience who no longer fit on a rebuilding Cavs team. They were supposed to be traded to contenders at the deadline.

Drummond emerged in trade rumors before the deadline, but primarily among playoff-bound teams like the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks and Toronto Raptors. A 13-39 Cavaliers team going nowhere this season? No way.

Cleveland put together one of the most bizarre trade deadlines in recent memory by trading for Drummond and holding on to Love. For Altman, it may be the beginning of a bigger plan.

      

Drummond's Future in Cleveland

Drummond somewhat fits agewise with the Cavaliers' young core of Collin Sexton (21), Darius Garland (20) and Kevin Porter Jr. (19), but his contract status is still up in the air.

The 26-year-old has a $28.8 million player option for the 2020-21 season. The Pistons seemed confident he'd pick it up rather than become an unrestricted free agent this summer, which explains why they traded the NBA's leading rebounder for two expiring contracts and a 2023 second-round pick.

Altman admitted he and Drummond hadn't talked about what he would do with his option before the trade, but he was fine sacrificing the Cavaliers' upcoming salary-cap space for him.

"Absolutely, we consider him a potential long-term play," Altman said. "Obviously, he has a player option that if he picks up, we think we're in good shape in terms of our cap space. There's no better money spent than on Andre Drummond if he picks up his option."

There's some belief around the league that the Cavaliers could look to flip Drummond as early as this summer.

"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."

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.

      

Love Knew Trade 'Probably Wasn't Going to Happen'

Holding on to Love at the trade deadline wasn't Cleveland's first choice, but the potential returns didn't justify moving on from the franchise's best player.

One league source said before the deadline that the Cavaliers "would have to take a loss" if they wanted to trade Love and the remaining three years and $91.5 million left on his contract after this season, meaning they would have to attach a draft pick or some sort of sweetener in the deal.

That didn't make sense for a Cavs team focused on asset accumulation at this point.

"Kevin and [agent] Jeff [Schwartz] wanted a trade, but I think both knew it probably wasn't going to happen," the former GM said. "It's something they'll push for again in the summer. I think he'll be traded this summer since the free-agent market is so bare and the draft doesn't look like anything special. Teams need to add talent somehow."

Love's value around the league has dropped in recent years because of his age, injury history and contract. While the 31-year-old is still producing at a high level (17.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 38.0 percent from three), the numbers no longer match the money he's making.

"He's not an All-Star anymore," one NBA scout said. "He's a complementary player. He's probably the fourth-best guy on a contending team."

A few teams will continue to pop up in trade discussions for Love this summer. The Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns may have needs at power forward and can offer roles in which Love can be the third- or fourth-best player. The Philadelphia 76ers could also provide a home for Love if they want to move off one of their big-money deals. The Cavaliers may end up flipping him in a bad-money-for-bad-money deal if they're willing to keep that kind of salary on their books.

"There's a lot of bad contracts they could have traded him for. The Sixers would have traded Al Horford for him, but why would Cleveland do that? They want expiring money and picks," the former GM said. "Portland could have made a deal work, but for what? They would have really had to look at their cap space and tax money for next year and asked how far a trade for Love would really push them. Would it make them a top-four seed in the West? I don't think so."

The market for Love didn't justify a trade at the moment, but the Cavaliers will likely try again this summer or at next year's deadline, when his remaining contract will drop to two years and $60.2 million.

     

Going Big

The Cavs' four highest-paid players are now all power forwards or centers. Love, Drummond, Thompson and Larry Nance Jr. are making a combined $88.2 million this season.

Thompson moved to the bench with the arrival of Drummond, which figures to hurt his per-game averages of 12.1 points and 10.3 rebounds heading into unrestricted free agency. The Cavs aren't likely to buy him out, as they hold his Bird rights and could orchestrate a sign-and-trade to a team that wants him but wouldn't have the cap space to sign him outright in free agency.

With Thompson and Drummond almost unplayable together because of overlapping skill sets and a lack of spacing, Love and Drummond must coexist for now. This is just another hurdle for head coach John Beilein, who's already considering stepping down just over halfway through the first season of a five-year contract, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst.

In Love and Drummond's first game together, the Cavs suffered the worst home loss in the franchise's 50-year history, a 133-92 beatdown against a Los Angeles Clippers team playing without Kawhi Leonard. Love finished with only 10 points and took seven of his eight shots from outside the arc.

"It's something that's going to take a little bit of time," Love said. "I was probably on the perimeter 90 percent of the time. He's down there gobbling up the rebounds and I'm trying to sprint down the floor. Eventually, I'll get back to being me."

For Drummond, his role and city of employment remain similar. While he initially seemed upset when he found out about the trade, he ultimately can decide how long he wants to stay on the Cavaliers.

"I'm not here hanging my head," Drummond said. "I'm here with a positive attitude and trying to instill that in everyone else."

For Love, Drummond and even Thompson, it's about making the best of the final 28 games before all could go their separate ways this summer.

     

Greg Swartz covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Find him on Twitter here.

Michael Lee from The Athletic returns for the 3rd Annual The Full 48 All-Star Weekend Wrap-Up to break down the weekend festivities including the dunk contest and judging, the new All-Star Game format and the incredible tributes to Kobe Bryant. They also discuss late Commissioner David Stern and the conspicuous absence of Michael Jordan.