Cavs trade rumors: Which player would Knicks send for Andre Drummond?

What can the Cavs expect from the Knicks in an Andre Drummond trade?

In Cavs trade rumors, the Knicks are reportedly analyzing a deal for big man Andre Drummond.

So, what would the Cavs get in return for a guy they’ve asked not to play anymore as the team waits to make their move?

If you said assets, you’d be right. New York Post writer Marc Berman reported that New York has a “trove of second-round picks.”

Alas, the money has to come close to matching in a deal, so that means Cleveland would have to take on players. As Berman pointed out, it’s not believed the Cavs have a high asking price.

Since Drummond has no real value, the Cavs would be taking on a cast off and Berman singled out former first-round pick Austin Rivers, or Frank Ntilikina as potential players as prime candidates to be dealt.

Rivers never lived up to expectations as the 10th overall pick in the 2012 draft. He’s currently scoring 7.3 points per game in about 21 minutes per night. Rivers signed a three-year deal with the Knicks and is earning $3.5 million this season. His contract is not guaranteed in the two seasons after the current campaign.

Ntilikina is earning $6.5 million and can be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. He was the eighth overall pick in the 2017 draft.  He’s appeared in just four games this year. He’s averaged 6.0 points and 3.0 assist while shooting a dreadful 31 percent from 3-point range in his four-year career.

The Knicks would have to kick in about $15 more in salary though, as Drummond is earning $27 million this season.

Drummond was a double-double maven averaging 17.5 and 13.5 this season. That said, Cleveland’s offense would become stagnant when the center wanted to make himself the focal point of the offense.

The Raptors were reportedly considering a Drummond trade, and rumors of Drummond landing in Dallas arose when it was reported the Mavs were looking for more rim protection.

Drummond became expendable when the Cavs acquired Jarrett Allen in the three-team trade that delivered James Harden to the Nets.