NBA Trade Rumors: All-Star Center Opts To Sit Out As Cavs Shop For Replacement

The Cleveland Cavaliers plan to move on without Andre Drummond effective immediately.

The 27-year-old center will be sitting out games for now as the Cavs try to find a suitable trade partner for the NBA All-Star player.

The Cavaliers are no longer planning to field in the 6-foot-10 center as they explore the NBA market. Drummond did not suit up for the team in their loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

However, he was in attendance. But his sweatshirt that showed the word “farewell” at the front was pretty much self-explanatory, ESPN reported.

It would, later on, be learned that the decision to have Drummond sit out had already been discussed with the cager, his agent Jeff Schwartz and Cavs general manager Koby Altman.

For now, there has been no mention as to which team Drummond could play for next.

However, the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks have shown interest but only if the All-Star center is bought out by the Cavs, The Athletic reported.

Drummond owns an expiring $28.7 million contract and Cleveland is likely to check first if teams are willing to deal for him via an exchange of players.

Drummond is a regular double-double machine, owning averages of 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 25 games. However, his performance in the Cavs' last couple of games took a dip, a reason why head coach J.B. Bickerstaff was contemplating on making adjustments.

In a previous post, it was presumed that Drummond would be coming off the bench with Jarret Allen starting in his place.

JaVale McGee was the center that Cleveland was likely to let go of at first. But seeing how Drummond had an expiring contract and the possibility of seeing him walk away after the current NBA season may have tilted the odds.

Aside from the Clippers and Mavericks, the Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers were suggested as other potential landing spots.

But right now, the Cavs would prefer to get a clean exchange of players without sacrificing money to amicably part with the 27-year-old center.

The NBA trade deadline is set for Mar. 25 with the Cavs hoping to get some good offers. With the hefty salary he carries, that could take a while–meaning Drummond will have to watch from the sidelines and wait until another franchise is ready to take him in.