Raptors rumors: Is Andre Drummond a potential upgrade in the paint?

With the Toronto Raptors currently sitting in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff hunt after a considerably slow start to the season, the momentum has completely shifted. Still. getting complacent with their roster could see them slide down the standings. In an attempt to remedy that, Masai Ujiri appears to be interested in an All-Star center like Andre Drummond.

The Raptors are among a group of teams currently interested in trading for Cavaliers C Andre Drummond, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. With Aron Baynes currently struggling as the lone “traditional” center on the roster, it goes without saying how much of an improvement Drummond would be.

The Cavs’ two-time All-Star has been considered one of the better centers in the league ever since he became a rebounding king during his Pistons days. With 22 games under his belt this season, he’s averaged 18.6 points per contest, along with 14.2 rebounds per game.

Andre Drummond could change the complexion of the Toronto Raptors roster

Sam Amico reported that Drummond is ‘highly unlikely‘ to remain in Cleveland beyond the deadline, to the pleasure of numerous interested teams. One important note is that he’ll be an unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason.

The main issue in Toronto (or Tampa) at the moment, is the absence of rim protection and board action in the middle of the floor. The Raptors entered the 2020-21 season with three centers: Aron Baynes, Chris Boucher, and Alex Len. This was far from normal for Toronto, as fans were used to seeing Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka make their presence felt.

Both of those key big men headed to Los Angeles as Ibaka joined the Clippers and Gasol signed with the defending champion Lakers. Ever since the new installments of the Raptors’ interior have come in, there have been moments of inconsistency and lack of a true force inside. The team has struggled to truly replace what they once had at the position.

Baynes is putting up 5.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, and has seen his fair share of time in the starting lineup for Toronto. However, his production has been considered to be lackluster or relatively underwhelming. Len’s time with the Raptors was short-lived, as he was released following seven games with the team.

A bright spot for Toronto has been the emergence of Chris Boucher due to his 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds averages nearly doubling from his previous years with the franchise. His high scoring nights, becoming a shot-blocking machine and continuous hustle have catapulted him into discussions of Most Improved Player of the Year.

Despite the evident growth of Boucher, his lack of size at the position compared to the opposition on a regular basis is something that might hold him back from being even more of a force moving forward. The depth at the position that Toronto has is just getting by, but won’t be enough in the East. Now, insert Drummond and the depth would receive a major upgrade.

What Drummond brings Toronto is an immediate presence inside who can contribute massively in the defensive and rebounding department. He’s religiously active at the boards, features quick defensive instincts, and makes points in the paint hard to come by. These elements of his game can largely help the Raptors as they look to continue their playoff streak.

He’ll be able to provide around 18-20 points a night, as his current points per game mark is a career-high. He’s also an underrated and willing passer. What the Raptors currently have in the interior isn’t terrible, but it makes it tougher on other teams when you have someone like Drummond on your roster.

This could potentially cause a stunt in Boucher’s minutes yet, the major reason why this move has to be done is due to the fact that an upgrade from the Baynes experiment is needed at this time. Drummond will be a clear improvement if a move is made.

The Raptors have been linked to Drummond for quite a while so, by the deadline, there’s a realistic chance he suits up with the team.