Cleveland Cavs: What the Andre Drummond trade means for the future
By Chad Porto
Kevin Love likely to stay
The problem with Kevin Love has been that he’s had no real help. Sure, Thompson has been viable and has put up double-double numbers himself but this is his contract year and he just found out he’ll be playing off the bench thanks to the arrival of the better Drummond. Love will enjoy playing with Drummond, as Drummond is a force to be reckoned with down low.
He’s a powerful player at center, with amazing rebounding skills and the ability to turn the tide of a game defensively. His-shot blocking ability is also an asset that will help the team not be so beatable down low. Love can play off the sheer physical dominance of Drummond and either space the floor for Drummond to work one-on-one or be the one who’s hitting mid-range jumpers all day as Drummond or whoever is running point kicks out to Love to make a play.
Love will also have a reliable rebound partner, so instead of Love hoping Thompson is having an on-day, Love will know that he has the beast of beasts in the middle, racking up rebounds left, right and center. This isn’t to say that the Cavs still won’t trade Love, anything’s possible but the move to bring in Drummond not only helps Love get some guys off of his back offensively but will also show Love that the team is making a commitment. The Cavs have too many holes to fill to dismiss the acquisition of Drummond.
One more major move between now and the start of the 2020-2021 season will be more than enough to get the team back into playoff contention. What that other move likely to be is anyone’s guess, though one would argue that it won’t be bringing back the next guy on the list.