NBA Trade Deadline: Cavs fleece Detroit Pistons to acquire Andre Drummond

According to various NBA reporters, the Cleveland Cavs have acquired Andrew Drummond for John Henson, Brandon Knight, and a second-round pick.

Everyone thought that Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love were going to be traded at the deadline, what actually happened is far different. The Cavaliers have acquired Detroit Piston’s big man, Andrew Drummond. The trade will involve center John Henson, point guard Brandon Knight and a second-round pick.

The move seems to accelerate the potential for a Cavs playoff return in 2020-2021. The 2020 free agency period won’t be as rich or deep as last year, and there aren’t as many teams with the money needed to bid for players, or in some cases, overpay. Many believe specific players, including potentially Drummond, would make less per year than if they stayed on their options. Drummond has a 2020-player option that he could very easily opt into for about $28.8 million. This would mean that the Cavs would be well off down low next year, and would mean that the Cavs would more than likely keep Love and build to a real playoff chance.

This does leave open what happens to Thompson. He was rumored to be shipped out and may still be as there are about thirty minutes in the deadline day. Could the Cavs make another big move to acquire an all-star caliber player, like this very writer suggested not a few hours ago or is this the extent of a wild move by a bold front office?

If the Cavs can re-sign Thompson, and make a swing for another all-star, then it’s not out of the realm possibility that the Cavs could be highly competitive next year. Either way, the Cavs have secured their center spot for at least the next year-and-a-half, assuming Drummond wants to remain in Cleveland.