With Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, the Dallas Mavericks have their future secured. But if they really want to maximize their talent, they might have to make a few more roster changes.
Ahead of the NBA’s deadline, we can expect the Mavericks to be very active in their pursuit of talent. According to Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, Andre Drummond could be an option for them with his future in Cleveland all but over.
Dallas Mavericks receive: Andre Drummond
Cleveland Cavaliers receive: James Johnson, Dwight Powell, 2021 second-round pick and 2022 second-round pick
Andre Drummond puts huge numbers in the box score—13-plus rebounds per game in eight of his nine NBA seasons—but his impact doesn’t always measure up. If it did, he might be playing his way into Cleveland’s long-term plans instead of sitting and waiting for a trade out of town.
Drummond is an old-school style, traditional big man — but he’d be perfect in Dallas, alongside two sharpshooting stars in Doncic and Porzingis.
It’s hard to see how this exchange wouldn’t improve the Mavericks.
Drummond would immediately add bulk and boards, and the trade cost would be minuscule. James Johnson has fallen out of the rotation. The same goes for Dwight Powell, who’s owed more than $11 million each of the next two seasons. Dented cans aren’t discounted this much.
For the Cavs, moving on from Andre makes the most sense, especially if they can get some decent assets in return.
For Cleveland, though, Drummond lost any hope of being its center of the future once Jarrett Allen came aboard. The Cavs have already shifted to life after Drummond, so anything they bring back at this point would help them come out ahead. The chance one or both of the second-round picks could hit on someone interesting should be enough for Cleveland to sign off on the swap.
Needless to say, the situation with Andre Drummond is growing more complicated by the day. With his chapter in Cleveland closing, it’s anyone guess where he’ll end up over the next few days and weeks.
Regardless of what happens, Dallas should be right there in the thick of things as trade rumors continue to heat up around the association.
