CLEVELAND, Ohio – A year ago, I was excited when the Cavaliers switched to Andre Drummond. The price was modest: a pair of expired contracts (John Henson, Brandon Knight) and a second round pick in 2023 for Detroit for the NBA’s leading rebound.
At the very least, I thought the Cavs would be able to switch it if the 1.80m center did not fit in with the young players.
As fans know, the Cavs were unable to strike a deal for Drummond when the gong rang to end Thursday’s negotiation deadline. They will now negotiate the purchase of Drummond, making him a free agent. It is difficult to remember that Drummond averaged 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds in the 25 games he played this season. They were 9-16 in those 25 games.
WHEN IT WAS BAD
To prove how complicated memory can be, I thought they were close to 0.500 with Drummond on the court.
Checking the statistics, the Cavs were between 7 and 7 on January 20, 2021, when they made the switch bringing 2.1-meter Jarrett Allen to Cleveland. At that point, Drummond saw the future center of Cleveland. It was not him. Allen, 22, was a great pickup truck for GM Koby Altman. He is a selfless center who likes to rebound and blocks shots. He is a professional sniper with 61% of his career, rarely making a bad shot.
A restricted free agent, Allen is expected to receive a long-term deal in the range of $ 100 million. He averages 14.7 points, 11.2 rebounds and 0.645 pitches from the pitch as a starter.
Drummond knew this from the moment the deal with Allen was struck.
Of course, the Cavs had no idea that they would be switching to Allen when they acquired Drummond on February 6, 2020. Nor did they know that the pandemic would end the NBA five weeks later. Until Allen’s arrival, Drummond was content to make big numbers, rebound, play defense and improve his free agent status after the season.
But he knew that his playing time (and statistics) would be cut with Allen now in the spotlight. I heard that Drummond is working out in Los Angeles, wanting to go to the Lakers.
Jarrett Allen made Andre Drummond want to leave Cleveland. Allen is expected to sign a major contract to stay at Cavs beyond this season.
John Kuntz, cleveland.com
SIT, WAIT AND LEAVE
The NBA has become a strange place. If a renowned player thinks his time is up when the negotiation deadline approaches, he will be left out. In fact, it will be left out and paid until it is negotiated – or purchased without your contract.
Blake Griffin (Pistons), LaMarcus Aldridge (Spurs) and Drummond followed this path. Griffin has already signed with Nets. Aldridge (probably for Miami) and Drummond are important items in the secondary free agent market. But that does not help the Cavs, who have not been able to turn Drummond into any future assets. He was also expensive, his $ 28.7 million contract this season.
The NBA has changed in relation to the centers. They want the big ones to shoot outside. Or some teams don’t mind having big faces (at least not on big contracts). That’s why the Cavs didn’t have to give up much to acquire Drummond – and why they couldn’t find a place to negotiate it without accepting an even more terrible contract in return.
Drummond was a gamble that did not pay. The Cavs knew it was a possibility because Drummond’s attitude was questionable in the past.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dylan Windler heads into the ring against Denver Nuggets center Isaiah Hartenstein earlier in the season. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
LOOKING FORWARD
The Cavs also left veteran pivot JaVale McGee for Denver for two future choices for the second round (2023 and 2027) and the great 22-year-old Isaiah Hartenstein.
I liked the 33-year-old McGee. The 7-foot player has always played hard. He accepted any role assigned to him. There is a reason why he participated in three regular NBA teams. He’s a solid player. But he will also be a free agent after the season.
The main return for the Cavs is the 2.10 meter Hartenstein, who was an All-Star of the G-League. In the NBA, his experience is limited to 81 games over three seasons, averaging 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in 10 minutes per game.
He is not an outside shooter, he is more of a diving and rebound athlete.
Even with their 17-27 record, Cavs is a better team than last season’s 19-46 model.
Collin Sexton matured and became an explosive top scorer (24 points per game). Darius Garland (16.6 points, 5.9 assists) is showing promise as a point guard. Allen and Larry Nance Jr. are great men willing to defend. Newcomer Isaac Okoro is athletic … but also a newcomer who plays as a 20-year-old still trying to understand the NBA.
This is another season of playing and selecting young people. But one goal should be the Cavs’ return to the defensive mentality that helped him win a few games early in the season. That was with Drummond, who is now gone.
But Allen and Nance can lead in that area, especially if JB Bickerstaff makes defense a priority for the rest of the season.
RECENT TERRY PLUTO COLUMNS
Talking to myself about Jake Bauers, Bobby Bradley and The Tribe
Bradley Zimmer is the best option in the central field?
Terry’s Talkin ‘Browns: Andrew Berry’s Defensive Makeover
Paul Dolan Talks Tribe and money
A hitter named Miller, Rosario in CF – Goodyear Scribbles
Goodyear Scribbles: Rosario in CF, a hitter named Miller
Rashard Higgins comes back and I’m happy with that!
Goodyear Scribbles: Clase dazzles, Bauers fights
Goodyear’s doodles: Gimenez, Allen impresses. Karinchak dominates.
–
New Cavs face masks for sale: This is where you can buy Cleveland Cavaliers-themed facial covers for protection against coronavirus, including a single mask ($ 14.99) and a pack of 3 ($ 24.99). All NBA proceeds donated to charities.