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UPDATE: Feb. 8, 2:40 p.m. — Drummond will make his Cavaliers debut Sunday vs. the Clippers. Drummond is expected to enter the starting lineup, I imagine in place of Tristan Thompson at center. It doesn’t make any sense to play an oversized lineup with Kevin Love at small forward, but crazier things have happened, I guess.
Not that this should come as a huge surprise, but a source tells @clevelanddotcom that Andre Drummond will make his #Cavs debut tomorrow night against the Los Angeles Clippers.
— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) February 8, 2020
UPDATE: Feb. 7, 12:27 p.m. — Drummond is on his way to Cleveland and is expected to practice with the team on Saturday. He could make his debut Sunday against the Clippers.
#Cavs Koby Altman said Andre Drummond is en route to Cleveland. Drummond expected at practice Saturday
— Marla Ridenour (@MRidenourABJ) February 7, 2020
Cavs GM Koby Altman mentioned to reporters that he hasn’t discussed Drummond’s player option for next season yet.
#Cavs Koby Altman said he has not discussed Andre Drummond’s player option for 20-21 with him yet.
— Marla Ridenour (@MRidenourABJ) February 7, 2020
UPDATE: Drummond found out about the trade and voiced his displeasure with the deal on Twitter:
If there’s one thing I learned about the NBA, there’s no friends or loyalty. I’ve given my heart and soul to the Pistons , and to be have this happen with no heads up makes me realize even more that this is just a business! I love you Detroit...
— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummond) February 6, 2020
The Detroit Pistons are finalizing a trade to center C Andre Drummond to the Cleveland Cavaliers, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Cleveland is finalizing a trade for Detroit's Andre Drummond, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2020
Woj and Shams were the first to report the trade, but now we have the package, per Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. The return for the Pistons, is, well ... yikes.
Pistons will receive Brandon Knight, John Henson and a second-round pick form the Cavaliers for Andre Drummond, per sources.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) February 6, 2020
So the Pistons basically get rid of Drummond for spare parts in this deal. The good thing for Detroit, though, is they shed Drummond massive contract. He is making $27M this season and has a player option for 2020-21 at $28.7M, which he’d likely pick up. While Drummond is only 26 and in the prime of his career, he’s more of an “Old School” center in that he can’t spread the floor and isn’t an elite defender. Drummond is still one of the best rebounders in the NBA and would be added to a front court featuring Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson (for the time being).