The Toronto Raptors need to be aggressive if they want to stay near the top of the Eastern Conference totem pole, and trying to solve their issues at center could go a very long way towards making them a more robust team. With the Cleveland Cavaliers still building for the future, center Andre Drummond could be on the move.
While Drummond is having one of the finest seasons of his career, the James Harden trade landed Jarrett Allen in Cleveland, and the Cavs seem intent on making him the center of the future. Drummond’s ability on the interior could turn any number of Eastern Conference teams into contenders.
Shams Charania of the Athletic reported that the Raptors were one of several teams that were in discussions with the Cavs about Drummond, who reportedly will not be played as they look to get a trade together for him.
Can the Raptors even pull off a Drummond trade? While they have the players and picks needed to hypothetically make a trade work, several key contributors might be deemed too valuable to move in order to both secure Drummond and take on his hefty salary.
You're not giving up Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, or Pascal Siakam for Andre Drummond, and you probably don't even want to part with Norman Powell or Chris Boucher for Drummond either.
— Chris Walder (@WalderSports) February 15, 2021
So ... good luck.
Andre Drummond could be an instant starter in Toronto
Drummond will once again challenge for the league lead in rebounds, as he is pairing a 13.5 rebounds per game averaged with a career-high 17.5 points per game. With Allen likely the long term center in Cleveland, Drummond will likely take his services somewhere where he could win.
As much as a Toronto fit makes sense, a trade might be difficult to pull off. Not only will Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam likely be off-limits in a Drummond trade, but OG Anunoby’s standout play and recent contract extension will make it difficult to trade him. Considering how Chris Boucher doesn’t make a ton of money, he’s likely not going to be moved in any hypothetical deal.
Norman Powell will likely have to go to Cleveland in this deal, as he could leave the Raptors anyway in the summer be declining his player option. With an eight-figure salary, he’ll help make the financial aspects of this deal work.
Aron Baynes, Patrick McCaw, and Matt Thomas would all likely have to be traded in order to even get a chance at Drummond, and doing that might be a body blow for a Raptors team that is already lacking in depth.
Trading for Drummond could mean that the Raptors will likely trade away a good chunk of their bench, and Masai Ujiri needs to decide if it’s the right thing to do.