SAN FRANCISCO – After Friday’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, in which Andre Drummond sat on the bench away from his teammates for a few breaks, Cleveland Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff said the organization was not afraid of difficult decisions.
Sitting Drummond certainly confirms this.
“We discussed this in groups and in the front office. We had a conversation with Andre and his representative and we thought we came to the right conclusion that was the best for everyone, ”said Bickerstaff before the end of Monday’s trip against the Golden State Warriors. “I have a lot of respect for Andre as a human being and as a basketball player and we always want to do what is right for our boys.
“Sometimes you are forced into difficult positions that are not easy to navigate. But in relation to ‘Dre and everything he did and achieved and as much as he helped us, we think it was the fairest thing to do for him. “
Drummond, who was held on Sunday to rest, will not dress against the Golden State. The Cavs will determine the other details in the coming days when they return to Cleveland after more than a week on the road. They will discuss all possibilities with Drummond and his agent.
This is very clear: just over a year after acquiring it from the Detroit Pistons on a stunning term contract, Drummond played his last game with the Cavs. The front line will now try to find a trading partner before the March 25 deadline.
“Obviously, none of us wanted to get to that point,” admitted Bickerstaff. “I think you can let ‘Dre speak for himself, but we had a good relationship. He liked it here in Cleveland. So it was not something that was easily decided. Obviously, we feel the same way about ‘Dre. I have nothing but great things to say about him. Much of our initial success was on his back at both ends of the floor. We tried to make it work to the point of trying to play those guys together, all that stuff, but it just didn’t work out. I really care about ‘Dre and I have a good relationship with him, so that makes it even more difficult. “
Sources tell cleveland.com Bickerstaff had to speak to Drummond a few times about his commitment at both ends of the room after Jarrett Allen arrived in January. That’s when things started to change. Drummond, who played well at the beginning of the season, suddenly felt unwanted, was upset and let those emotions impact his performance, making it difficult for the Cavs to see him as useful.
But Bickerstaff said that Drummond remained respectful to coaches and teammates – even on Sunday night, when he backed from the bank, something that should continue during this hiatus.
“He has been a great teammate throughout his time here in Cleveland,” said Bickerstaff. “He has a great relationship with his teammates, from top to bottom. And he supports these guys. He’s a very good person. I don’t expect that to change. Difficult? yea. I don’t want to deny that. It’s not easy, I’m sure. But he has been great with his teammates and engaged with them too. “
This includes Allen, who was brought to Cleveland to replace Drummond.
“These are class acts, both,” said Bickerstaff of Drummond and Allen. “They supported each other. We never had any friction, no problem between the two. “
Sources say there were no purchase discussions between the Cavs and Drummond’s camp. No one currently believes that this will be the end result. Although there is already commercial interest in Drummond, his $ 28.7 million contract makes the deal more complicated than it looks.
The Cavs, who need to re-sign Allen during this off-season and are likely to extend Collin Sexton, are expected to take back about $ 23 million in contracts to complete a deal with Drummond. Even though there are not many suitors who fit the parameters and have contracts to align the salary, the Cavs could look for a third or fourth team to help facilitate. They don’t want to sacrifice any assets to encourage a team to accept Drummond’s massive contract.
The Cavs knew that Allen would be the long-term starting point. General manager Koby Altman said this after this negotiation. Allen won that opportunity with his stellar game as a reserve, but the organization believed it was unfair to limit Drummond’s minutes or to play twice All-Star during this transition. This move allows the Cavs to have a more detailed view of their future.
“It’s a clear picture, right? Like, now you understand what’s in front of you, ”said Bickerstaff. “And now you have to figure out how to get the best out of it. Before attempting ping pong, make sure everyone has a chance. Guys won these opportunities. You want to make sure that they have these opportunities. I think it is now a clear picture of what we are moving forward. “
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