This is where Andre Drummond should sign
This offseason Andre Drummond could choose to decline the player option for the 5th year in his current contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers and become an unrestricted free agent. Although the current economic climate and tensions with China could reduce the salary cap going forward, Drummond still looks set to collect a big payday.
Apart from Anthony Davis, who is very likely to resign with the Lakers, Drummond is the best prospect on the market, meaning the bargaining power is in his hands. Drummond is also a 2x All-Star who is just about to come into his prime at age 26.
He is easily the best rebounder in the world right now. He was averaging 15.2 rebounds a game and has 3 of the last 4 rebounding titles to his name. Drummond has also grown hugely as a scorer and defender. He was averaging 17.7 points as well as 1.9 steals and 1.6 blocks. He is someone who can anchor your defense, score efficiently on offense and grab vital possessions for your team.
He’s also a hard-worker as shown by his improvement at the free-throw from 37.1% in his rookie season to 57.5% this past year. It’s safe to say he’s in the driving seat this summer and if he chooses to leave the Cavaliers then these are the teams he should consider signing with.
3. Sacramento Kings
Even though Marvin Bagley looks like a good player, the fact that he’s regressed in his 2nd year should be a red flag for the Kings given they selected him with the 2nd overall pick in the 2018 draft. A foot injury is a big warning as big men who have problems with their feet are at a much greater risk of the issues becoming serious.
Sliding Bagley over to the power forward and inserting Drummond at center will give Sacramento a very good starting lineup with De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes. There is ample shooting from Hield and Barnes, Fox has All-Star potential written all over him and Bjelica would be an excellent 6th man thanks to his great 3-point shooting.
Sacramento has been considered a bit of a joke by the rest of the league for quite some time now. Maybe Drummond could be the one to catapult the Kings back to the Playoffs for the 1st time since 2006.
2. New York Knicks
If I’m the Knicks GM, there’s no way I’m re-signing Maurice Harkless and picking up the team options for Bobby Portis and Taj Gibson. Harkless only played 12 games an averaged 6.8 points and 3.3 rebounds. Portis only averaged 10.1 points and 5.1 rebounds and Gibson averaged 6.1 points and 4.3 rebounds.
If they decline the aforementioned team options they will only have around $70 million on the books for next season so they can offer a star the max deal. Even though New York is the biggest joke in the league right, all it takes is one star to bring the bright lights back to Madison Square Garden.
New York is the biggest city in the world in terms of prestige. The business and networking opportunities that would be made available to Drummond are endless, something that will be of more and more interest to him as he gets older.
- Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets have ample cap space for next season thanks to Bismack Biyombo’s deal coming to an end. Charlotte shouldn’t even think about giving Biyombo another deal. He only averaged 7.4 points and 5.8 rebounds last season and is very undersized at the position at 6’8”.
The Hornets have a promising backcourt with Terry Rozier and Devonte Graham. Both guards averaged over 18 points a game, Rozier shots 40.7% from the 3-point line on 6.7 attempts per game and Graham averaged an impressive 7.5 assists.
Adding Drummond would be the perfect complement to these 2 guards. The number of offensive rebounds he gobbles up helps whatever side he’s on get easy points and he would really help the Hornet’s defense which ranked the worst in the NBA in opponent 2P% (55.8%).
Drummond has a 7’6” wingspan for his 6’10” frame and has led the league in defensive rating twice so far in his career. His defense and rebounding always lead to the other team scoring fewer points when he’s on the court, this is something Charlotte desperately needs.