Cleveland Cavaliers

Newly acquired Cleveland Cavaliers big man Andre Drummond could become a free agent this coming offseason depending on whether he chooses to execute his $28.75 million player option for the 2020-21 campaign, but the team reportedly has not yet discussed the specifics of a potential long-term deal.

Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reported the news, noting general manager Koby Altman reached out to Drummond but has not yet delved into the details of a contract yet.

Cleveland acquired Drummond from the Detroit Pistons on Thursday in exchange for guard Brandon Knight, forward John Henson and whichever one of the 2023 second-round picks between its own and the Golden State Warriors' is worse.

Altman suggested the team will consider a long-term deal with the 26-year-old center.

"So I think with the player option or not, we have flexibility and optionality moving forward, but I think these next 30 games or so, he's really going to enjoy playing with our guards and Kevin Love as well, and we'll see," he said in a conference call Friday. "But with his age and what he brings to the table, I think for sure we have to consider him a long-term play."

While Drummond isn't exactly an ideal fit into the modern game of spacing and perimeter shooting, he has been impressive this season. He averaged 17.8 points, 15.8 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.7 blocks in 49 games before Detroit traded him.

If he maintains his current pace with the Cavaliers, it will be the third straight season he's averaged at least 15 points and 15 rebounds a night. The UConn product has led the NBA in rebounding three times and currently tops the league.

The 6'10", 279-pound Drummond has played his entire career with the Pistons and will have the opportunity to see how his game blends in with veteran bigs Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson.

The fact that Drummond is just 26 years old could work in Cleveland's advantage from a long-term perspective as well. If it does sign him to a long-term extension, he figures to remain in his prime long enough to overlap with the primes of youngsters such as Collin Sexton (21), Darius Garland (20) and Kevin Porter Jr. (19).

If all of them live up to their potential, the Cavaliers could eventually challenge for a postseason spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Cleveland Cavaliers aren't expected to buy Tristan Thompson out of his contract after failing to trade him before Thursday's deadline, according to The Athletic's David Aldridge. 

Joe Vardon of The Athletic reported Tuesday that Thompson was open to a contract extension with the Cavs at one point but had communicated to the team he was looking to be traded.

Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reported Cleveland negotiated a possible trade with the Houston Rockets, but the Rockets were "unable to get to his number to make a trade work."

Thompson is making $18.5 million this season before becoming a free agent.

The 28-year-old would presumably savor the opportunity to play for a contending team again, and he'd have value for a franchise with championship ambitions. He's averaging 11.9 points and 10.4 rebounds through 48 games.

Staying in Cleveland will have one benefit to Thompson since he'll retain his Bird rights, which allows the Cavaliers to go over the salary cap to re-sign him. That provision would evaporate in the event he's bought out.

This is a HUGE reason why Thompson's camp would like to see him traded, hoping some team values his Bird rights and would re-sign him in the summer to a nice contract. Yes, there are other reasons why too. https://t.co/w1Oq3boB9a

— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) February 6, 2020

The Cavs could execute a sign-and-trade in the summer, or they could offer Thompson a short-term market-level deal with an eye toward trading him next year.

In the meantime, head coach John Beilein will have to navigate a tricky frontcourt dynamic.

In one of Thursday's most surprising moves, Cleveland acquired Andre Drummond from the Detroit Pistons, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Assuming Kevin Love is locked into the starting lineup, Drummond or Thompson will have to come off the bench, or Beilein will need to find a way to somehow play them together.

Andre Drummond learned the hard way the NBA is a business after the Detroit Pistons sent him to the Cleveland Cavaliers ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline.

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor reported the Cavs acquired Drummond for Brandon Knight, John Henson and a second-round pick.

Drummond reacted to the deal shortly after reports surfaced, tweeting, "If there's one thing I learned about the NBA, there's no friends or loyalty":

If there’s one thing I learned about the NBA, there’s no friends or loyalty. I’ve given my heart and soul to the Pistons , and to be have this happen with no heads up makes me realize even more that this is just a business! I love you Detroit...

— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummond) February 6, 2020

Cont... you will always have a special place in my heart! But on to the next @cavs hope your ready! Let’s finish the year off the right way 🦋

— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummond) February 6, 2020

Drummond's now-former teammate can attest to how quickly loyalty is thrown out the window in the name of making a business decision.

The Los Angeles Clippers built Blake Griffin a makeshift museum to entice him into staying during the 2017 offseason. Months after he signed a five-year, $171 million super-max extension, the Clippers traded Griffin to the Pistons.

“Shocked is a good way to put it.”@blakegriffin32 on his reaction to being traded from the @LAClippers to the @DetroitPistons.

H/T @FOXSportsDet pic.twitter.com/EDzwDduw88

— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 31, 2018

Going to Cleveland is probably another source of frustration for Drummond. Rather than moving to a contender, he's joining the last-place team in the Eastern Conference. 

The Cavs are unlikely to be much closer to playoff contention should Drummond exercise his $28.8 million player option for 2020-21. Tristan Thompson is a free agent this summer, and Cleveland will presumably revisit a possible Kevin Love trade. The Athletic's Shams Charania and Vardon reported in January that Love was frustrated with the team's direction.

Drummond should channel whatever anger he might feel toward the Pistons into his on-court performance. The 26-year-old has the chance to play himself into a nice payday this offseason or in 2021 should he opt in with the Cavs.

The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off the most surprising move of the trade deadline, reportedly acquiring Andre Drummond from the Detroit Pistons.  

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the two teams were finalizing a deal. Per The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor, Brandon Knight, John Henson and a second-round draft pick will go to Detroit in exchange for Drummond. 

Drummond's arrival complicates the frontcourt situation in Cleveland with Tristan Thompson still on the roster. 

The Athletic's Joe Vardon reported on Tuesday that Thompson's camp wants him traded before Thursday's 3 p.m. ET deadline, with people close to the veteran center calling it a "priority."

Assuming Thompson's time with the Cavs ends soon, either via trade or through a buyout, their starting five will include Drummond, Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Kevin Love and Cedi Osman. 

Here are the players Cleveland head coach John Beilein has available off the bench: 

• Tristan Thompson (center)
• Larry Nance Jr. (center)
• Ante Zizic (center)
• Marques Bolden (center)
• Alfonzo McKinnie (forward)
• Kevin Porter Jr. (forward)
• Dylan Windler (forward)
• Dean Wade (forward; two-way contract)
• Dante Exum (guard)
• Matthew Dellavedova (guard)
• Matt Mooney (guard; two-way contract)

Love has seemingly done everything in his power to get dealt, but Marc Stein of the New York Times reported it's unlikely to happen during the season. 

The addition of Drummond is unusual for a Cleveland team that is trying to build around young pieces like Sexton (21) and Garland (20).

The Cavs didn't give up anything of significance, so even if Drummond opts out of his deal to become a free agent this summer, they didn't mortgage their future to make this trade. 

If Drummond meshes well with Cleveland's young guards over the next two months, he can opt in to his $28.75 million salary next season or possibly work out a long-term extension this summer.

It's a no-lose deal for the Cavaliers, who need all the help they can get to create some excitement as owners of the worst record in the Eastern Conference (13-39).  

The Houston Rockets reportedly did their "due diligence" in an effort to acquire Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson before Thursday's 2020 NBA trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET but couldn't get a deal done.

Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reported the update and noted a "buyout is not an option" for Thompson if he stays with the Cavs beyond the deadline.

The 28-year-old University of Texas product, who helped Cleveland capture the first championship in franchise history in 2016, is one of the most notable names on the trade market.

He's averaging career highs in points (11.9) and rebounds (10.4) this season, and he's 14th in the NBA with 22 double-doubles.

Thompson was asked in December about the potential of being traded with the Cavaliers lagging near the bottom of the NBA standings. Their current 13-39 record is the league's second-worst mark.

"Take it one game at a time," Thompson told reporters. "Keep the main goal the main goal, which is to come out and compete with my guys and be ready to go to war."

He added: "It's the business of basketball."

Meanwhile, the Rockets are seeking frontcourt depth after they traded starting center Clint Capela to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a four-team deal that netted them Robert Covington and Jordan Bell.

Although Houston has succeeded with extreme small-ball lineups recently, with the 6'5" P.J. Tucker playing center, it will probably want another true center on the roster before the playoffs for matchup versatility.

It doesn't sound like Thompson is going to fill that void, however. Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported the Cavs are seeking a first-round pick in any deal.

The Rockets may wait until after the deadline to see which centers end up on the buyout market, which is a prime avenue for contenders to bolster their roster late in the season.

The rumor mill has started to spin rapidly before the NBA trade deadline, and the Cleveland Cavaliers are seemingly waiting for their moment to join the cycle.

But it's not because things are going well.

Since the calendar turned to 2020, Cleveland has mustered a 3-15 record. This dreadful stretch has included losses to fellow lottery-chasing teams in the Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks (twice) and injury-plagued Golden State Warriors.

While the 13-38 Cavaliers should only have a long-term focus, that vision demands some uncomfortable choices.

Most notably, it means determining Kevin Love's future.

Granted, the decision might be easy at the deadline. Recent news suggests Cleveland won't find a trade right now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4x0YqlF_Q0

"I don't see a logical landing spot," Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium said while appearing on the HoopsHype Podcast.

Nevertheless, the veteran forward will attract interest around the league. Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated noted the Los Angeles Clippers have "kicked the tires" on Love, though he's not a preferred option for the organization.

Although it seems Love will remain in Cleveland until at least the summer, it's not a guarantee. He said the Cavs haven't given him assurance of that, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.

Tristan Thompson is a different story.

Love is under contract through 2022-23, according to HoopsHype. Thompson, conversely, is headed to unrestricted free agency this summer. The Cavaliers view him as a long-term piece, but no trade means they'd risk losing him for nothing.

And it seems likely he'd end up leaving in July anyway.

According to Joe Vardon of The Athletic, Thompson's camp wants him traded by Thursday's deadline.

"Anyone who trades for him now gets his Bird rights, which means that team can go over the salary cap this summer to re-sign him," Vardon said of the trade request. "It's certainly part of the reason Thompson's camp wants him traded."

While on The Lowe Post podcast, ESPN's Brian Windhorst noted the Washington Wizards are interested in Thompson. Candace Buckner of the Washington Post confirmed the report.

So the Tristan Thompson news @WindhorstESPN had previously reported — I’m hearing the same. The #Wizards have expressed interest in Thompson.

A big man who rebounds, does the dirty work + with a trade, the Wiz would have his bird rights ... a move w/ an eye toward the future

— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) February 4, 2020

Mannix noted the Clippers are also interested in Thompson for his rebounding ability. He's collected career-high averages of 11.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 2019-20.

As for compensation, Fedor reported Cleveland is seeking a first-round pick in any trade involving Thompson.

Thompson's situation is undoubtedly the one to monitor as the trade deadline approaches.

Otherwise, the Cavs are looking at smaller deals. Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports said the New York Knicks had interest in John Henson, but the talks broke down. The Knicks have since fired team president Steve Mills, so what happens next is unclear.

Even if a trade materialized, though, the focus will remain on a potential Thompson deal before Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.

           

Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR

Losses continue to pile up for the Cleveland Cavaliers as they approach the 2020 NBA trade deadline, and the season-long struggles may lead the franchise to be active on the market.

Star forward Kevin Love has consistently been mentioned in rumors, and he'll be featured in several more reports leading up to Thursday's cutoff at 3 p.m. ET. He won't be the only player mentioned as the Cavs attempt to improve their long-term outlook.

Love's future, though, will remain the primary storyline.

While the current reports aren't necessarily opposing, they provide valuable insight from multiple perspectives.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said on The Woj Pod that Cleveland's front office does not expect a deal to materialize.

"Cleveland is resigned right now that there is no trade for them between now and Thursday," he said. "Unless something comes out of nowhere, essentially, they will be looking in the offseason."

ESPN's Zach Lowe added, as of Monday, none of the discussions involving Love appear serious.

That can be concurrently true with Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reporting an uneasy feeling around the team.

"More than a few guys in that locker room sense the organization wanting to make a big shakeup" and looking to trade both Love and starting center Tristan Thompson.

Not long after, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports confirmed the Cavaliers have put Thompson on the market. Sources told Haynes that the Cavaliers are in "asset accumulation mode," so the 28-year-old is a prime trade candidate because of his expiring contract.

According to HoopsHype, Thompson is due $18.6 million this season. He should be an attractive piece anyway; he's averaging career-high marks of 11.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists with just under a block per game.

Considering the state of the Cavs—a ghastly 13-38 and tied for the second-worst record in the NBA—it's only smart to consider dealing Thompson before the deadline.

Granted, that doesn't mean to accept the best offer regardless of the returning value. Thompson could re-sign with the Cavaliers during the summer; he's not simply playing out a contract with no chance of returning to Cleveland in 2020-21.

While the riskier path, it's also a reasonable one.

Brandon Knight, John Henson—who has attracted interest from the New York Knicks, per Haynes—and Matthew Dellavedova are also on expiring contracts. Unlike with Thompson, the Cavs should entertain any proposal that returns an asset.

        

Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.

Cleveland Cavaliers big man Tristan Thompson reportedly wants to experience playing for a different team for the first time in his NBA career.

According to Joe Vardon of The Athletic, a trade sending Thompson away from the Cavaliers prior to Thursday's deadline is a "priority" for those in his camp. Cleveland selected the University of Texas product with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, and he has been with the franchise ever since.

While Thompson never turned into the annual All-Star many expect from a top-five draft pick, he is a double-double threat every time he steps on the floor and is averaging 11.9 points and 10.4 rebounds a night while shooting 50.8 percent from the field this season. 

The production comes after he averaged a double-double of 10.9 points and 10.2 boards per game in 2018-19.

There is no doubt the 28-year-old, who is only under contract through this season, could contribute as part of a frontline rotation for a contender. Moving him for younger players or draft assets would help a Cavaliers team that is just 13-38 accelerate their rebuild considering they won't be contenders with Thompson on the roster unless they re-sign him.

Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported Cleveland is in "asset accumulation mode" and has made Thompson available as part of those efforts.

Thompson is a playoff-tested veteran with 78 postseason games on his resume. He helped anchor Cleveland's frontcourt during the 2016 title run that saw him notch three triple-doubles in the NBA Finals win over the Golden State Warriors.

The only way he will compete for another championship this season is with a trade.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a franchise in flux to put it nicely. 

The John Beilein era is off to a disastrous start. The Cavs are competing with the Atlanta Hawks for the worst record in the East without the excitement of a Trae Young to give hope for the future. 

The pairing of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland doesn't look right from what they've shown thus far. And the aging remnants from the 2016 title run are no longer a match for the organization going forward. It's with that backdrop that the team enters Thursday's deadline. 

Names like Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson have made the rounds throughout the season. As we get closer to the actual deadline here's the latest buzz surrounding Cleveland and its assets. 

        

Locker Room Anticipating Big Changes

The Cavs look like a mess from the outside, but it doesn't sound like it's much better on the inside. 

Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported that the feeling in the locker room is that Love and Thompson are being shopped. 

"More than a few guys in that locker room sense the organization wanting to make a big shakeup, that the front office is 'trying to trade Kevin and Tristan.' While it's their job to block out any noise and focus solely on basketball, they are also human."

It's easy to get caught up in the moves the Cavs could make and how they impact the big picture. They are clearly in a rebuilding stage, but what that does to a team on a day-to-day basis can get lost.

The Cavs are in an awkward position where much of the roster like Thompson, Love, Jon Henson, Brandon Knight and Matthew Dellavedova aren't part of the long-term future. Yet, they need them to provide leadership and stability. 

Those are two things that are hard to provide when it's unclear if they will be on the team by the end of the week. 

Which is why the Cavs might be better after the trade deadline either way at this point. 

       

Cavs 'Resigned' a Deal for Love Won't Get Done; Suns Remain a Wild Card

Kevin Love remains one of the most valuable assets the Cavs have on the trade market. The 31-year-old forward is averaging 17.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game in 31.1 minutes a night. 

He's also shooting 37.9 percent from deep and has valuable playoff experience on a championship team. 

However, finding a trade partner to take on his four-year $120 million deal has been difficult. 

Speaking on The Woj Pod, veteran NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski said the Cavaliers have become "resigned" to the idea that a Love deal is unlikely to happen by the deadline. 

There's still some hope they can move the forward, though. ESPN's Zach Lowe reported that while there's "little market" for him, something could develop over the next few days with Phoenix being a team to keep an eye on. 

"The wild card was always Phoenix," Lowe wrote. "The Suns are hard to predict. Rivals struggle to get a feel for the Suns' objectives."

The Suns are four games behind the Grizzlies for eighth place in the Western Conference. They could use Tyler Johnson's $19.2 million cap number and some of their young assets to upgrade at the power forward position for a run to the playoffs for the first time since 2010. 

       

Tristan Thompson on the Block

The feeling among the players that the Cavs are looking to move Love and Thompson are warranted. Chris B. Haynes of Yahoo reported that Cleveland is open to dealing Thompson in trade talks.

Haynes also noted that the Cavs are in "asset accumulation mode" after losing to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. 

Thompson should be an appealing piece for teams looking to contend this year. He's in the last year of the five-year contract he signed with the Cavs in 2015. His $18.5 million deal will come off the books at the end of the season and at 28 years old, teams may be interested in bringing him back for more.

He's also putting up some of the best numbers of his career. His 11.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game would be career highs if the season ended today. 

Those numbers aren't doing Cleveland much good, though. Thompson is much more valuable as someone who can bolster the front court and offer playoff experience to a contender than a strong rebounder on a floundering team without much direction. 

Moving Thompson for future assets makes a lot of sense, it just comes down to finding a team willing to pay the right price. 

Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson won't play in Monday's game against the New York Knicks.

Per Joe Gabriele of Cavs.com, Thompson was a late scratch with soreness in his right quad. Larry Nance Jr. will start in his place.

Thompson has been mostly healthy so far this season. This will only be his third missed game and first since Jan. 15. 

Currently his ninth NBA season, Thompson is having one of his most productive years. The 28-year-old is averaging a career-high 11.9 points and 10.4 rebounds in 48 games. 

Staying on the floor has been an issue prior to the 2019-20 campaign. Thompson missed 39 games due to injury last season, most notably a sprained foot in December.

The Cavs are having a number of problems on the court, even when Thompson has been healthy. Their 13-37 record is tied for last in the Eastern Conference and they have just one win in their last 11 games heading into Monday's contest against the Knicks.