Looking at the comments by Drummond, Nance, and JBB yesterday what really struck me is how enthusiastic Drummond is and how he seems to be taking on a leadership role. I was thinking that here's a veteran who was traded to a crappy lottery team with one year left on his contract. He's going to just focus on having a good year individually and pad his numbers so he can get a good contract with a better team after this season. Instead, he's talking about how good this team can be, how he wants to mentor the younger players, and it sounds like he wants to be here long term.
The key quotes from Dre:
Accountability comes from all around. Being here on time. Giving your best and all each and every day when you’re in the weight room. Giving your best and all when you’re on the court. Being able to take criticism without being offended. Being able to critique yourself. Being able to take advice. Being able to do things without being told and when you are told being able to get it done at a high rate and giving it your best.
We’re not too far off. We have the caliber guys here to really make some noise. If we don’t make it to the playoffs, we’ll be damn close. I think give us maybe about a year before we’re a really, really, really, really good team.
I’m really excited to start this new journey with a new team. There’s a clean slate for me just to rewrite my journey….Being here in Cleveland, just opportunities are endless here. And I could do really great things.
It’s a young team with guys who are willing to learn and want to win. Just need a little bit of guidance. I think myself, (head coach) J.B. (Bickerstaff), Kevin Love and Larry (Nance Jr.) are going to be able to help these guys a lot. The process is fun for me, so that’s why I decided to stay.
My goal is to be Defensive Player of the Year. While I’m here I have no reason why I can’t do it with the way our defense is structured.
If we get our ass beat by playing hard, I’ll be content with that. But if we’re laying down and letting teams just give it to us, I’ll never be okay with that.
Chris Fedor mentioned that Drummond had KPJ down to Miami for a week of workouts and bonding, so he already started on helping out the younger players.
The reason he mentioned DPOY is because Bickerstaff talked to him about how much they need his defense.
We have high expectations of Andre on the defensive end of the floor. We believe that he can be a guy that shuts down the entire paint. We believe that he should be a guy that’s mentioned in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation. And we’ve had that conversation with him.
Offensively, he’s gifted, and he’s blessed. If we’re talking about winning basketball, he’s a difference-maker unlike very many guys in this league on the defensive end of the floor. We need him to impress his will on that end of the floor. The offense will take care of itself.
It looks to me like Drummond is excited to be here and wants to help the team win in whatever way he can, including being a role model for work ethic and accountability, playing defense, and providing guidance to the younger players. He's not here just to get his points and rebounds to set up his next contract, at least based on what he's saying.
I think it says a lot that Drummond was chosen along with Nance as the players they wanted to speak to the media on Day One. He seems to be all in on the Cavaliers, not just all in on his personal goals. Also, if he thinks this team needs "about a year before we're a really, really, really, really good team", why would he want to go somewhere else next season? He sounds like he wants to carve a spot for himself as a long term core player in this organization.
I wonder how many games a "really, really, really, really good team" normally wins in a season?