Situation For Drummond Changed Quickly.

Man, things change quick in the NBA, especially when it comes to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

On January 27th, the Cavs beat the Pistons, 122-107 to raise their record to 9-9. Andre Drummond had 23 points, 16 rebounds, and five steals and was a huge part in the victory over his former team. The week before, the wine and gold knocked off the star laden Brooklyn Nets in back-to-back games, giving everyone, us included hope for the current season.

Yesterday, not even three weeks later, the Cleveland brass sent Drummond home until they work out a trade for the league’s leading rebounder.

Since, that game, the Cavs have gone 1-9, with the lone win being against Minnesota, a game in which Drummond did not play. So, that win against Detroit was the last win Drummond will experience as a member of the Cavaliers.

After starting the season strong, the big man seemed like a different player after GM Koby Altman traded for Jarrett Allen as part of the mega-swap involving James Harden going to the Nets.

He averaged 17.5 points for Cleveland this season, but since that Pistons game, that figure dropped to 14.4 and his rebounding dropped to just under 10 per game. To be fair, his minutes dropped from 30 to 25 in February, but did his numbers drop because his minutes fell, or vice versa?

There is a downside to free agency sometimes. Drummond was a free agent at the end of the current season, and the Cavs felt like he wasn’t going to sign with the team long term, so when Allen became available, Altman jumped at the chance to get a good, younger big man, who would be a restricted free agent after the year, meaning the Cavaliers could match any offer, thus keeping him here for awhile.

But Drummond seemed to be bothered by the presence of Allen, perhaps seeing the writing on the wall, and he played differently.

When the deal was made, most people, including us, felt Cleveland would be moving Drummond sooner than later, and it seemed to cast a pall on the entire roster. Maybe it didn’t affect the locker room, but it certainly appeared the whole squad was in a funk.

Drummond was held out of Sunday night’s tilt against the Clippers, citing rest. But yesterday’s announcement certainly made more sense. How quickly a move will come is anyone’s guess, but for right now, Allen is the starter at center, with JaVale McGee getting back up minutes.

So, if Drummond’s attitude was an issue, and by the team sending him home, it appears that is the case, the next thing to fix is the defense in the backcourt which is becoming an issue again. Allen is a good defender, but he finds himself covering for players being allowed to go to the basket at will, and no one is helping. Offensive rebounders from opposing teams are getting easy baskets.

And until Kevin Love can take the court again, the move also makes Cleveland very small up front. The starting power forward is Taurean Prince, who is a slight 6’7″. Don’t forget Isaac Okoro, who gets the bulk of the minutes at small forward is only 6’5″, so once again, the wine and gold is very small.

Hopefully, Love and Larry Nance Jr., who have started the majority of the games at power forward will be back sooner than later, and maybe (hoping) another player with size comes back in a possible trade for Drummond.

Drummond’s legacy with the Cavs: 33 games, 17.5 points, 12.9 rebounds. Altman got him for a song, and hopefully gets more than he paid in a deal.

Things can change quick in the NBA for sure.