Andre Drummond

Center Andre Drummond agreed to a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers after clearing waivers on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, agent Jeff Schwartz informed ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the big man intended to sign with the reigning champs once he was officially able to.   

Drummond took to Instagram to let fans know he's ready to get "Back to work."

The Detroit Pistons selected Drummond with the ninth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft. The two-time All-Star and four-time rebounding champion spent his first seven-plus seasons with the Pistons, who traded Drummond to the Cleveland Cavaliers in February 2020. He also made the All-NBA Third Team during the 2015-16 season.

Drummond, 27, averaged 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 25 games for the Cavaliers, who bought out the remainder of his contract Friday. He hadn't played for the Cavs since mid-February as the team sat Drummond in hopes of finding a trade partner or buying out the remainder of his contract. Cleveland ended up doing the latter amid a tough season that has seen the team go 17-29. 

There were no apparent behind-the-scenes issues between Drummond and the Cavs, and Cleveland general manager Koby Altman praised him on the way out, per the Associated Press:

"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. 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."

For his career, Drummond has averaged 14.6 points, 13.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.

Drummond now joins his third NBA team in the Lakers, who hope the 6'10" big man's presence will vault them to postseason success.

The short-handed Lakers have struggled of late with injuries to Anthony Davis and LeBron James. They can also use more help at the 5 in place of Marc Gasol, who has enjoyed a phenomenal NBA career but is slowing down at age 36 (4.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG). Drummond could be of service and form an excellent one-two punch with backup big Montrezl Harrell.

The Los Angeles Lakers are on the precipice of signing Andre Drummond, but that will not end Anthony Davis' minutes at center in the postseason.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported the Lakers plan to continue using Davis at center in certain matchups despite Drummond's impending signing. The two-time All-Star will clear waivers Sunday and is widely expected to head to Los Angeles, with several Lakers players recruiting him in recent days.

The Cleveland Cavaliers bought out the remainder of Drummond's contract after failing to find a trade partner before Thursday's deadline.

Marc Gasol has started at center for the Lakers most of this season. He returned to the lineup Thursday after missing nearly a month after contracting COVID-19 and is averaging 4.8 points and 4.0 rebounds.

It's likely Drummond's signing will significantly cut into Gasol's postseason minutes. The Lakers signed the three-time All-Star hoping his floor spacing and heady play would help enliven the team on both ends of the floor, but Gasol has mostly looked past his prime and slow on his feet.

Moving Drummond into the starting lineup will give the Lakers an athletic, rebound-hawking big in the middle, similar to Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee last season. The Lakers will almost certainly ask Drummond to wipe out the aspects of his game that go beyond dunking and rebounding, like they did with Howard and McGee. That recipe proved successful during the postseason bubble, with both Lakers bigs having their moments during the team's title run.

Davis, who has pushed back on a full-time center role, steps into the 5 when the Lakers want to open the floor or teams attempt to go small. He has a combination of size and athleticism on the outside that makes him switchable against small lineups while still offering the Lakers rim protection.

Of course, the Lakers will need Davis (Achilles and calf injuries) and LeBron James (high ankle sprain) to just get back on the floor before worrying about a title defense.

Every year around the trade deadline, a handful of bad teams simply release good players (or formerly good players, anyway) so they can sign with good teams for close to nothing ahead of the playoffs.

The buyout market is one of the strangest but widely accepted aspects of the present-day NBA. It allows lottery teams to focus on developing their younger players and curry favor with agents while contenders in certain markets provide veterans with an avenue for late-career ring-chasing.

So far this time around, the Brooklyn Nets are cleaning up. They already snagged Blake Griffin after he parted ways with the Detroit Pistons, and ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday evening that they're poised to land LaMarcus Aldridge in the near future.

If this was seven years or so ago, the Nets would have the most loaded team in NBA history. It's a mashup of the early-2010s Oklahoma City Thunder (Kevin Durant, James Harden and Jeff Green) and Lob City-era Los Angeles Clippers (Griffin and DeAndre Jordan), plus perennial All-Stars from those eras of the Cleveland Cavaliers (Kyrie Irving) and Portland Trail Blazers (Aldridge). All that's missing are uniforms nobody can agree are white and gold or blue and black.

Another guy whose best years happened in roughly that same time frame is Andre Drummond, who reached a buyout agreement with the Cavs after the deadline and is widely expected to join the Los Angeles Lakers in the coming days. Multiple reports had Drummond joining the Lakers as a done deal a week ago; his reported post-buyout discussions with the Knicks and Celtics appeared more to serve as plausible deniability for the inevitable tampering accusations, because no one in the NBA would ever have a deal in place before they're allowed to.

Whenever a player like Griffin or Drummond hits the open market midseason and quickly joins one of the same handful of teams, it's accompanied by a measure of hand-wringing about the ability of select teams to stack the deck with players that casual fans might have heard of from the All-Star teams they made a half-decade ago. Those old enough to remember the Cavs adding Deron Williams in 2017 or the Rockets adding Joe Johnson in 2018 will tell you most of these big names are available for free because they don't have enough left in the tank for teams to want to trade for.

The occasional buyout guy makes a real impact. Boris Diaw seemed completely finished in Charlotte but went on to play a key role on the Spurs' 2013 and 2014 Finals teams. P.J. Brown came in off the couch for the 2008 Celtics and hit one of the biggest shots of their title run.

Most of them, though, are closer to the 2019 Bucks version of Pau Gasol than they are to Diaw, or even the Lakers' midseason acquisition of Markieff Morris last year en route to the bubble championship.

At 27, Drummond has much better odds of moving the needle for the Lakers than either Aldridge or Griffin do for the Nets. His production hasn't gotten meaningfully worse from his two All-Star seasons last decade—he's still a rebounding machine and volume scorer in the paint—but the landscape of the league has shifted to de-emphasize traditional centers with no perimeter game. That combined with his $27.8 million salary is why he had no trade market. 

There's a clear role for Drummond with the Lakers, who need help up front with Anthony Davis on the shelf and Marc Gasol still working his way back after recovering from COVID-19. If Davis and LeBron James are both healthy for the playoffs (a big if), the Lakers should still be the favorites to come out of the West.

The Nets' situation is a little more uncertain. Durant hasn't played in almost two months as he deals with a hamstring issue. They're still dominating behind an MVP-caliber stretch from Harden and the emergence of young big man Nicolas Claxton, whose minutes Aldridge and Griffin could cut directly into. 

If Durant, Irving and Harden are at full strength, it may not matter much whether the two best power forwards in the league circa 2013-14 can still contribute in 2021. Aldridge and Griffin will serve as insurance policies for each other, and for Jordan, who's also in his early-30s and well past his All-Star days. Aldridge is the better bet of the two to be productive, without nearly the injury history Griffin has.

But if the Nets are counting on either of them to be the difference between winning a title and falling short, chances are they're in for a disappointment.

Sean Highkin covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon and lives in Portland. His work has been honored by the Pro Basketball Writers' Association. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram and in the B/R App.

The Los Angeles Lakers have emerged as a "strong frontrunner" to sign forward Andre Drummond after the Cleveland Cavaliers bought him out, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Lakers' frontcourt is reeling from injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis as Marc Gasol continues to get back into game shape following time in COVID-19 protocol. Drummond would significantly help there. The former Detroit Pistons star is averaging 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 25 games this season.

Drummond is scheduled to clear waivers at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday and will be free to sign with the team of his choice.

The push from the Lakers comes after forward LaMarcus Aldridge struck a deal with the Brooklyn Nets following his buyout from the San Antonio Spurs, per USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt. The two big men were considered the top options on the buyout market, and it's no surprise they are quickly finding new homes.

In the interim, Drummond would have a vital—if not starting—role with the Lakers as head coach Frank Vogel continues to search for ways to make up for the loss of Davis and James.

After four straight losses, Los Angeles finally got back in the win column Friday with a much-needed victory over Cleveland, but lackluster shooting and spotty defense were more than apparent throughout the night.

Drummond could immediately help in both areas.

A two-time All-Star and four-time rebounding champion, the 27-year-old would help stabilize an L.A. title defense that's looked suspect in recent weeks.

The New York Knicks are not expected to sign free-agent center Andre Drummond after the Cleveland Cavaliers bought out the remainder of the big man's contract after the trade deadline.

Marc Stein of the New York Times relayed the latest Drummond report while noting the front-runners.

"The Knicks are not at the forefront of the chase for Andre Drummond, league sources say, with three defensive-minded centers on the roster and with no clear starting spot to pitch," Stein tweeted.

"The Lakers and the Celtics are believed to be the strongest contenders for Drummond."

The Knicks' lack of interest in Drummond was also reported by Steve Popper of Newsday and SNY's Ian Begley, who tweeted this note:

The Knicks were reportedly on Drummond's "short list" as of Saturday, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. However, it appears the Knicks will not be pursuing the 27-year-old, who has averaged 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game this season.

New York is 23-22, good enough for fifth in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks have defied all preseason expectations and appear to be rolling with the roster that's gotten them this far, meaning that Mitchell Robinson and Nerlens Noel should continue to be the top options at the 5 with Drummond apparently heading elsewhere.  

While it was always seemingly a foregone conclusion that Andre Drummond would reach the buyout market, the Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly talked with the Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks about using his contract as a trade facilitator.

Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported Saturday the Cavs floated using Drummond's salary to help a team land Kyle Lowry before Thursday's deadline. Cleveland was similarly a facilitator in the Brooklyn Nets' trade for James Harden, as the Cavs landed Jarrett Allen and expedited Drummond's departure.

The Raptors did not trade Lowry, and Drummond stayed put until he and the Cavaliers reached a buyout agreement.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowskireported Drummond met with the Boston Celtics on Friday. Boston traded Daniel Theis at the deadline, which could open up a role for Drummond in the starting lineup—albeit at the expense of Robert Williams III, who has emerged in recent weeks as a defensive force.

The Nets and Los Angeles Lakers, both in need of help in the middle, have long been viewed as the favorites for Drummond. Drummond would also likely get an extended starring role with the Lakers with LeBron James and Anthony Davis out for weeks with injuries.

Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday the New York Knicks are also contenders.

The decision will come down to what Drummond wants. Brooklyn and the Lakers offer the best chances to win a championship, The Knicks would provide perhaps the most consistent role, and Boston extends a blend of contender status and a solid starting job.

The Boston Celtics have a "real shot" to land free-agent center Andre Drummond, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Keith Smith of Yahoo Sports relayed the entire quote from Woj's ESPN appearance Friday: "The Celtics met with Andre Drummond today. Boston would like to add him to fill their hole in the middle. Boston has a real shot at him."

The 27-year-old averaged 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks in 25 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season.

The Cavs sat Drummond since mid-February in hopes of trading him or buying out the remainder of his contract. After Thursday's trade deadline, Cleveland opted for the latter on Friday.

The 6'10", 279-pound center was productive for the Cavs, but Cleveland is in full rebuilding mode and currently sports a 17-27 record. Keeping Drummond around wasn't beneficial for the player or the team, and now he is free to sign elsewhere.

The ex-UConn star could be a great addition for the C's, who are just 21-23 after making the Eastern Conference Finals last year. They need some more frontcourt help after trading Daniel Theis to the Chicago Bulls but still have Tristan Thompson and Robert Williams III down low.

Still, Drummond is the best scorer and rebounder among that group and would start at the 5.

The New York native could have more options than Boston, though. The Dallas Mavericks looked into a trade for the big man before the deadline, per Shams Charania. The Athletic and Stadium reporter also wrote on March 15 that the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets were believed to be the "top suitors" if he was bought out.

Now that Drummond has been bought out, Boston appears to have the inside track following the Wojnarowski report.

When Andre Drummond becomes a free agent, the Miami Heat are reportedly going to make a play for the two-time All-Star. 

Per ESPN's Brian Windhorst on The Hoop Collective Podcast (h/t NBA Central), the Heat are a team to "keep an eye on" after Drummond gets bought out by the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

The Cavs kept Drummond out of games since Feb. 14 as they explored trade options. 

After the trade deadline passed on Thursday without a deal, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported that Cleveland was going to work on a buyout with Drummond. 

The Heat have been connected to several potential buyout players, including Drummond and LaMarcus Aldridge. 

Aldridge is a free agent after receiving a buyout from the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Miami is a "front-runner" to sign Aldridge. 

The Heat acquired Victor Oladipo from the Houston Rockets and Nemanja Bjelica from the Sacramento Kings in separate trades on Thursday. 

It's unclear if a potential Aldridge deal would impact the Heat's interest in Drummond. Both players are centers, but they have very different styles of play. 

Drummond averaged 17.5 points on 47.4 percent shooting and 13.5 rebounds per game in 25 appearances with Cleveland prior to being held out of games. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers have reached agreement on a contract buyout with Andre Drummond.

The center, who hasn't played since Feb. 12 as the Cavs sought trade partners for him before the trade deadline, was bought out of his contract on Friday, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Cleveland wasn't as active as expected at the deadline, sending JaVale McGee to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Isaiah Hartenstein and a pair of future second-round picks. But it was unable to find a trade partner for Drummond.

The 27-year-old averaged 17.5 points and 12.9 rebounds through 33 games over a season-plus in Cleveland.

It wasn't necessarily his on-court performance that had teams shying away at the deadline; rather it was his major contract. He was due $28.75 million this season, the final year before he hits free agency.

As for the Cavaliers, they're left with Jarrett Allen at center, who will be a restricted free agent after this season.

The 22-year-old's presence was part of what motivated the team to bench Drummond, as the Cavaliers viewed him as "the franchise's long-term starting center," according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst. 

Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report reported at the trade deadline that the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks were the leaders for Drummond. Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports noted the Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, and Charlotte Hornets were in the mix as well, while Windhorst reported the Miami Heat would also be a factor.