Cleveland Cavaliers to sit Andre Drummond while looking for trade ahead of March 25 deadline – cleveland.com

LOS ANGELES — The Cleveland Cavaliers’ decision to rest Andre Drummond — and move Jarrett Allen into the starting lineup — wasn’t just for one game on Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers. It was part of a bigger, collaborative plan hatched hours before the matchup, allowing everyone to pause and figure out how to move forward in what became an untenable situation.

The Cavaliers and Drummond mutually decided Drummond would no longer play while the organization attempts to find a trade partner ahead of the March 25 deadline, sources tell cleveland.com.

General manager Koby Altman discussed the move with Drummond and his agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports, who also works with Kevin Love, and decided Drummond would remain with the team in support but would no longer be active for games, sources say. The only possible change in this plan is a rash of injuries at the center spot, but even that seems highly unlikely.

Drummond was ruled out of Sunday’s game because of rest. He was seated on the bench, supporting his teammates while wearing a cream-colored sweatshirt that had “farewell” written on the chest. He will not dress Monday night against the Golden State Warriors — the final stop on a miserable five-game road trip that has been filled with blowout losses.

The Cavs knew Allen would eventually be the long-term starting center. Altman said as much following that trade. Allen has earned that opportunity with his stellar play as a backup, but the organization believes it’s unfair to limit Drummond’s minutes or bench the two-time All-Star during this transition. This move allows the Cavs to get a longer look at their future.

“It hasn’t been easy for him to go through this,” a source close to Drummond said. “He’s disappointed because he wasn’t looking to move on.”

Sources say there have been no buyout discussions between the Cavs and Drummond’s camp. No one currently believes that will be the final outcome. While there’s already trade interest in Drummond, his $28.7 million contract makes a deal more complicated that it would appear, and nothing is imminent.

The Cavs, who need to re-sign Allen this offseason and likely extend Collin Sexton, must take back around $23 million in contracts to complete a Drummond deal. Even though there aren’t many suitors that fit the parameters and have contracts to make salary align, the Cavs could search for a third or fourth team to help facilitate. They don’t want to sacrifice any assets to incentivize a team to take Drummond’s bulky contract.

Drummond is averaging 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds this season in 25 starts. But his production has dipped since the Allen trade in January, when Drummond’s future became clear.

In the short term, the Cavs tried a number of different options, including playing Drummond and Allen together so both could start. That experiment failed. It was also unfair to both players, neither of whom are power forwards. The Cavs’ decision to platoon the center spot, splitting the minutes almost evenly, didn’t work either.

Drummond logged 17 frustrating minutes in Cleveland’s 129-110 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night, often appearing disengaged and uninvolved in team huddles. After scoring eight points and grabbing five rebounds, Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff mentioned the possibility of a role change for Drummond.

“Everything’s on the table, all the time,” Bickerstaff said following the loss. “Our focus again is to try to get him to be the best version of himself that he can be. We always have to face tough and difficult decisions. We’re not afraid of those decisions, but our first goal is to get him back to being the best version of himself.”

On Sunday afternoon, everyone agreed that was no longer possible. So, the two sides came up with a solution they believe is the best compromise in a difficult situation.