Andre Drummond

Two teams in the state of Texas are reportedly interested in Cleveland Cavaliers big man Andre Drummond. 

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets have "expressed exploratory interest in Drummond." Despite that interest, Scotto explained the expectation is still that Cleveland will buy out the UConn product's contract before he joins the Los Angeles Lakers or Brooklyn Nets.

It seems like just a matter of time before Drummond is no longer on Cleveland's roster.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst reported in February that the Cavaliers would no longer play the 27-year-old in an effort to work out a trade while focusing on the future with more minutes for Jarrett Allen.

Drummond has not played since Cleveland's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Feb. 12.

There are legitimate concerns about his game in today's era of space-and-pace basketball. He is a 46.7 percent free-throw shooter in his career, cannot extend his game beyond the arc as a nonfactor in pick-and-pops and is vulnerable to matchup problems when going against smaller lineups.

However, he is also a two-time All-Star and four-time rebounding champion who can control the glass like few others in the league. 

He averaged 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks this season before Cleveland's decision to no longer play him in games.

That Dallas is interested in Drummond is particularly notable because he can largely protect the rim and control the glass for extended stretches while Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis carry the offense in crunch time.

NBA sources are reportedly confident Cleveland Cavaliers center Andre Drummond will sign with the Los Angeles Lakers if he's not moved before Thursday's 2021 NBA trade deadline and is subsequently bought out by the Cavs.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported the update Tuesday on The Hoop Collective podcast.

"The league believes—and I know that that's a vague statement, but I'm saying it that way to avoid trapping myself—the league believes, numerous teams that I've talked to believe, that Andre Drummond is heading for the Lakers if/when he gets bought out," Windhorst said.

Drummond and the Cavaliers agreed in mid-February he would remain with the team but wouldn't play in games as the front office tried to find a trade partner. Cleveland didn't want to force him to play a minuscule role while shifting to Jarrett Allen as its starting center.

"Sometimes you're forced into difficult positions that's not easy to navigate, but in respect to Dre and all that he's done and accomplished and as much as he's helped us, we thought this was the fairest thing to do for him," head coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters.

Drummond was having another strong year before that. He averaged 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks while shooting 47.4 percent from the floor in 25 games.

His contract is a major hurdle in trade talks, however, as he carries a $28.8 million cap hit in the final season of his five-year, $127.2 million deal, per Spotrac.

Los Angeles likely doesn't have the financial flexibility to make something happen before the deadline, but ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday the two-time All-Star will be a "real big target" for the Lakers if he does hit free agency.

It creates dilemma for the NBA's other contenders heading into the deadline. Do they try to make a deadline move for Drummond, potentially getting other teams involved to help even out the cap hits, to prevent him from landing in L.A.? Or do they let him become a free agent and let the Lakers be the favorite to sign him?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rZuIXhpA0o

It's an interesting subplot to follow in the coming days, especially with Los Angeles seeking reinforcements with LeBron James (ankle) and Anthony Davis (calf) sidelined by injuries.

If Drummond does get bought out, the Lakers will likely work quickly to sign him so he can help the team's effort to remain in the upper echelon of the Western Conference standings while L.A. waits for its superstar duo to return.

The Lakers sit third in the West with a 28-15 record as they look to defend their NBA title.

Just two days remain before the NBA's trade deadline, and teams like the Cavaliers, Spurs and Pelicans remain active, searching to deal several players before they begin contract buyout negotiations instead.

On Monday, we discussed some of the buzziest names involved in teams' negotiations, from Victor Oladipo and Aaron Gordon to Devonte' Graham and Spencer Dinwiddie.

This rundown examines the players trending toward the buyout market, with details from their teams' conversations with rival front offices.

   

Andre Drummond

It's been five-plus weeks since the Cleveland Cavaliers began sitting their burly center, hoping to both move Drummond and create more playing time for Jarrett Allen. Cavs officials have maintained an optimism that Drummond could at least return the draft capital Cleveland surrendered to acquire him from Detroit last February: a future second-round pick.

There's been difficulty for any interested suitor, though, even the Boston Celtics with their famous $28.5 million trade exception, to make the salaries match, especially for a player who will likely command a pricey contract in free agency this summer.

"The hard part is he just makes so much money," one assistant general manager said. "It's hard to not include a contract you don't want to trade."

Along with the Celtics, the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls are known to have kicked the tires on Drummond, according to league sources, and the possibility always remains that some team will emerge at the eleventh hour with the draft asset for which the Cavs have been holding out.

But contenders such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets (though Brooklyn's interest seems to have waned since it signed Blake Griffin) have been bullish that Cleveland will fall short of finding a trade, leading to Drummond's agreeing to a buyout and becoming an unrestricted free agent just like Griffin before him. At this juncture, you'd be hard-pressed to find an executive who doesn't believe Drummond would join the Lakers in that scenario, as a starting role would likely be waiting for him.

In addition to Drummond, sources said Cleveland has held numerous conversations on JaVale McGee, Larry Nance Jr. and Cedi Osman. With Nance, the Cavaliers' asking price appears high. The front office is seeking at least a first-round pick for a player whose father once starred for the franchise and who has been a staple of the team in its transition past the LeBron James era.

   

LaMarcus Aldridge

The San Antonio Spurs have made it clear that LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan are available via trade, according to league sources. Gregg Popovich, of course, announced Aldridge and San Antonio's mutual interest to part ways, yet the rumblings surrounding his destination have remained quiet.

Only the Celtics and Miami Heat have been consistently mentioned by league personnel as teams with significant interest in Aldridge. And similar to the Drummond situation, it seems both franchises may be content to wait to add his services on the buyout market. The Heat are expected to make a spirited pursuit of Aldridge if he does become a free agent, but the Celtics could offer a primary frontcourt role in Brad Stevens' offense. "That sounds like their No. 1 priority," one team scout said.

DeRozan is also playing out the final year of his contract, and sources said he has an interest in playing elsewhere following this season—perhaps with an eye toward the Eastern Conference. DeRozan is quietly having an exceptional season, scoring 20.3 points per game on 49.1 percent shooting and boasting a 7.5-to-1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio. "He's transformed himself into this swing playmaker," one team analytics staffer said.

The likelihood appears low that DeRozan will reach a buyout with San Antonio, but by all accounts his time with the Spurs seems to be nearing its end.

The ever-active Knicks have considered acquiring DeRozan, sources said, but New York has the same reservations regarding that possible move as with the Victor Oladipo scenario we detailed Monday.

There's a faction of the Chicago front office that feels adding one piece such as DeRozan could push the Bulls firmly into the postseason, sources said.

And the Orlando Magic have discussed trading Evan Fournier, also on an expiring deal, plus a first-round pick for DeRozan, as the four-time All-Star could re-sign and help bolster the Magic once their roster returns to full health next season.

Multiple league sources mentioned Trey Lyles and his representatives are interested in a new destination for the 25-year-old forward and that the Spurs are also open to moving Rudy Gay in the final year of his contract.

   

JJ Redick

Aside from increasing Lonzo Ball trade speculation, the New Orleans Pelicans have not been nearly as rumored in conversations with league personnel as they were in January and February. There seems to be little traction in any deal for Eric Bledsoe, sources said, and JJ Redick appears more likely headed for the buyout market.

With his interest in playing for a Northeast team nearer his family in Brooklyn so well known, that's of course narrowed the market for any move. The Nets don't appear in need of much shooting, and some Philadelphia 76ers officials who predate Daryl Morey are still soured on Redick from his disappointing defensive performance in the 2019 postseason, sources said.

Perhaps the Celtics and Knicks, with needs for perimeter reinforcements, would send a second-rounder to the Pelicans, but it feels more like the veteran will reach a buyout agreement.

   

Otto Porter Jr.

As the Bulls have weighed adding to their roster for a postseason run, Chicago's main trade piece is Otto Porter Jr.'s $28.5 million expiring contract. Porter is certainly available, league sources said, but what he could net remains unclear.

He would theoretically be the salary that goes back to San Antonio in any DeRozan trade. Porter's deal was also mentioned by several league executives as potential bait to pry Harrison Barnes from the Sacramento Kings. But Sacramento is seeking significant draft capital for Barnes, and it appears Porter may be the veteran wing available for a contender in the coming days—if he and Chicago come to terms on a buyout.

Teams have shown interest in Thaddeus Young, though Chicago's recent adjustment of adding Young to the starting lineup and sending Coby White to the bench seems geared toward maximizing White's, Lauri Markkanen's and Zach LaVine's skill sets more than exhibiting Young to drive trade conversations with other front offices.

Chicago appears willing to discuss Markkanen. But his injury history and inconsistent defense that may cloud any trade talks have already impacted the Bulls' early extension conversations with the fourth-year forward. Chicago has previously offered somewhere in the range of $15 million in average annual salary, sources said, but there's a large gap between that and how his representatives seem to value Markkanen.

But if Chicago does swing a deal before the deadline, expect the Bulls to try to improve their playoff chances, not piece off their roster.

   

George Hill

There hadn't been much chatter regarding the Oklahoma City Thunder's veteran point guard, but as the trade deadline inches ever closer, Hill's name has emerged more and more in conversations among team executives. Both Los Angeles teams and Philadelphia have expressed interest, according to league sources. The Thunder's asking price appears clear. "They're willing to [both] take back and trade salary for draft compensation," one Western Conference official said.

The Sixers have a first-round pick at their disposal, and Hill would not require them to move Danny Green's salary, the trade chip necessary for any Kyle Lowry transaction. Plus the collective bargaining agreement bars teams from trading any player back to a previous team during the same season.

Neither Los Angeles club has first-round capital to play with, but there's hope among several teams that OKC will come to a buyout agreement with Hill. Thunder general manager Sam Presti, however, has little history of awarding buyouts to veterans. "That is not OKC's M.O.," one assistant general manager said. Maybe that will drive one of these contenders to splurge for Hill before the 3 p.m. ET buzzer.

   

Jake Fischer covers the NBA for Bleacher Report and is the author of Built to Lose: How the NBA's Tanking Era Changed the League Forever.

The Dallas Mavericks have reportedly "explored discussions" regarding a trade for Andre Drummond ahead of the March 25 deadline, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. 

The Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets are also interested in acquiring the center from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Drummond has been held out of games since mid-February as Cleveland tries to trade the veteran, although top teams are more likely to pursue him if he receives a buyout after the deadline, per Charania.

According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, "there's a growing expectation he will be bought out."

The challenge for any trade is matching Drummond's salary as he is owed $28.75 million in 2020-21. Even if Cleveland has a low asking price for a deal, not many teams could even handle the move within the salary cap.

The 27-year-old would still be able to help teams if he hits the open market.

Drummond was averaging 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game in 25 appearances this season before getting shut down by the Cavaliers. He has won the rebounding title four times and would trail only Clint Capela in the category this season if he had played enough games to qualify.

His addition would immediately help Dallas, which currently ranks 21st in the league in rebounding percentage, per NBA.com.

Putting Drummond at center could also free Kristaps Porzingis to stretch the floor as a 4 and give the Mavericks more options with the rotation.

It could also be a no-brainer move for either the Lakers or Nets, two of the favorites to win the 2021 title if healthy. Drummond could provide valuable depth for both squads, especially Los Angeles as it weathers the storm of injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.