Andre Drummond - LeBron's Robin

[DCTribefan]

I'd argue Drummond is the one who looks bad here

I don’t know about that. Give me $28 million to sit on the bench and look disinterested.

 

[Derek]

I don’t know about that. Give me $28 million to sit on the bench and look disinterested.

I didn't say he cared about looking bad

 

[DCTribefan]

But that's the exact thing that is unprofessional. He's sitting out because he unprofessionally refused to play if he wasn't starting ahead of Allen.

Easy to act “professional “ when being paid $28 million to sit on the bench and do nothing.

 

[BigZ94]

Easy to act “professional “ when being paid $28 million to sit on the bench and do nothing.

yeah what gives with that. If you’re told to come off the bench and you refuse shouldn’t the team be allowed to take those sat games out of your pay?

 

[wildfan]

IF Drummond has been unprofessional, and he doesn't give back money in a buyout, why would the cavs give up on the chance of a sign and trade this summer? Why do the LAL, Nets, etc a favor?

 

[beefstew]

Bears (Free Agent) Wide Receiver Allen Robinson... What is even going on anymore

 

[Dr No]

Bears (Free Agent) Wide Receiver Allen Robinson... What is even going on anymore

I have no idea if Allen Robinson knows anything, but the talk this has created is making me more hopeful we get Drummond traded. Listening to various sports radio and NBA reporters, it seems everyone is in agreement that both the Nets and Lakers really need Drummond. Whichever one lands him becomes the clear favorite to win the title. I still don't think we get a lot back, but I don't see why both of those franchises wouldn't be willing to give up a 2nd rounder (or 2) and take on that massive, but expiring, salary to get the inside track to a title.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Ben’s public speculation is often based on something.

Just to add to this, if Drummond really was willing to come off the bench to play for the Cavs rather than sit, there is no way his agent wouldn't be throwing a massively public shit-fit about the Cavs tanking his value and letting his skills go rusty by not letting him play.

The most logical explanation is exactly what @Ben said. Drummond refuses to come off the bench, so the Cavs crafted a statement that would make it look "consensual", and save some face for both of them. But if he actually was willing to play....he'd be playing.

The idea that the Cavs wouldn't play him because they don't want him to get injured and tank his trade value doesn't work because -- at his current contract -- he doesn't have any trade value.

 

[dms]

I have no idea if Allen Robinson knows anything, but the talk this has created is making me more hopeful we get Drummond traded. Listening to various sports radio and NBA reporters, it seems everyone is in agreement that both the Nets and Lakers really need Drummond. Whichever one lands him becomes the clear favorite to win the title. I still don't think we get a lot back, but I don't see why both of those franchises wouldn't be willing to give up a 2nd rounder (or 2) and take on that massive, but expiring, salary to get the inside track to a title

It doesn't take just a 2nd rounder, it takes a 2nd rounder and an equal amount of salary off their roster, and there's just no way to do that for the Lakers. LBJ and Davis are 72 million of their cap and Shroder, Caldwell-Pope and Harrell make another 36 between them. Those are all integral parts of the Lakers, no one else makes over 3.6 million. There's no way to get to 28 million. The Nets are in a similar situation. If it was easy any team would take on Drummond if for no other reason than to get an expiring deal

 

[mhi]

In terms of gambles so far, I'd give the KPJ one an A but this one is squarely a C minus. We should get our 2nd rounder back.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

In terms of gambles so far, I'd give the KPJ one an A but this one is squarely a C minus. We should get our 2nd rounder back.

Look...it may have worked out better in terms of Drummond at least continuing to play if Allen hadn't dropped into our lap. That was completely unexpected, and a huge boost for the franchise moving forward. Consider that second rounder a very small payoff of the huge extra bonus we got for Allen, and count us lucky.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

IF Drummond has been unprofessional, and he doesn't give back money in a buyout, why would the cavs give up on the chance of a sign and trade this summer? Why do the LAL, Nets, etc a favor?

EXACTLY!! Let him sit unless there’s a trade that makes sense for the Cavs!

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

It doesn't take just a 2nd rounder, it takes a 2nd rounder and an equal amount of salary off their roster, and there's just no way to do that for the Lakers. LBJ and Davis are 72 million of their cap and Shroder, Caldwell-Pope and Harrell make another 36 between them. Those are all integral parts of the Lakers, no one else makes over 3.6 million. There's no way to get to 28 million. The Nets are in a similar situation. If it was easy any team would take on Drummond if for no other reason than to get an expiring deal

I think this is the case with every team out there that could use Drummond. They just don't have enough unproductive salary on their bench to make the deal without giving up a key rotation piece or two. On top of that the Cavs probably aren't willing to take on salary for future seasons just to make Drummond go away now.

Toronto could get Drummond by giving up Powell, Baynes, McCaw and Johnson, which ESPN's trade machine approved. Drummond replaces Baynes at center; McCaw only played three games this year, and Johnson averages 3 points in 14 minutes, so losing those three would not be a problem. But Norman Powell averages 18.4 ppg in 30 minutes while shooting 48.8% from the field and 43.8% on 3's. I don't see how swapping Powell for Drummond makes them better.

Also, Powell has a player option for $11.4 million for next year which the Cavs would have to pay if he opted in. I would do this deal in a heartbeat but I can't see Toronto doing it because it doesn't make them better now and they lose Powell next year.

 

[guitarguy]

Don't understand at all why we'd buy him out at full price. All it does it help the advantaged teams. Who cares if we bench the guy? Like said above, we could always sign and trade in the off season. It just seems like a billionaire ass kiss move, haha. In other words, cities like Cleveland already have it tough in the league... but here we'd let him go to help LA or NY? (both places I'd live too, and have lived they're great) anyways... I see no advantage at all except you get a whiny dude off your team, but it also throws the message out there that you can be pushed over and no contract means anything here.

Also, I think if you didn't rush to buy him out, he might come down on what is paid. Say the deadline goes by, and you don't get anything, then you don't buy him out immediately... then he gets antsy, then perhaps takes less money to get away?

Anyways... I guess I don't care, it's not my money, but it does seem dumb.

 

[inliner311]

Don't understand at all why we'd buy him out at full price. All it does it help the advantaged teams. Who cares if we bench the guy? Like said above, we could always sign and trade in the off season. It just seems like a billionaire ass kiss move, haha. In other words, cities like Cleveland already have it tough in the league... but here we'd let him go to help LA or NY? (both places I'd live too, and have lived they're great) anyways... I see no advantage at all except you get a whiny dude off your team, but it also throws the message out there that you can be pushed over and no contract means anything here.

Also, I think if you didn't rush to buy him out, he might come down on what is paid. Say the deadline goes by, and you don't get anything, then you don't buy him out immediately... then he gets antsy, then perhaps takes less money to get away?

Anyways... I guess I don't care, it's not my money, but it does seem dumb.

I think it comes down to relationships with agents for the future. If you have a guy that you have no intentions of resigning and who wants a buy out, it just helps the overall relationship with the agent to buy out their client.

Some players don't want to get bought out because it has a negative effect on their future earnings. I think TT and Rich Paul didn't want to get a buy out last year to make sure TT got paid this year. To me it seems odd that Drummond would seek a buy out because he isn't washed up and still could get paid well in the off-season.