Credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
In a terribly unsurprising decision, Andre Drummond will pick up his enormous player option for next season.
As the resumption of NBA play looms and the 2020-21 season likely to be shortened, players have decisions to make on their contract options. According to ESPN, two-time All-Star center Andre Drummond said he plans to pick up his option for 2020-21.
On Tuesday’s episode of the “Le Batard and Friends-STUpodity” podcast, Drummond said he will “definitely” be back with the Cleveland Cavaliers next season.
“Yeah, it’s going to be hard to give up, so you can count on me being in Cleveland still,” Drummond said when pressed on whether he plans to exercise his option.
“I definitely will be in Cleveland.”
What does it mean for the Cavaliers that Andre Drummond picked up his option?
Drummond’s option for next season is worth $28.75 million. He was acquired by the Cavaliers from the Detroit Pistons in February for guard Brandon Knight, forward John Henson and the lesser of Cleveland or Golden State’s 2023 second-round picks. In eight games for the Cavs before the league shut down, Drummond averaged 17.5 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.
The Cavaliers were fully prepared for Drummond to pick up his option, and cap space is not a big issue for them. But the prospect of a lowered salary cap next year, and the uncertainty attached to hitting free agency this offseason, made the decision to pick up the option a no-brainer. And that leaves aside Drummond being an old-school style big man, with little perimeter threat to offer (5-for-35 from 3-point range this year).
In any other offseason, declining a one-year option and chasing a big multi-year deal would be the plan for most NBA players with said option. But Drummond did what a lot of guys in that situation probably will in the coming months, taking a nice, big, certain bird in the hand over the great uncertainty of the two in the bush.