Pistons trade Drummond to Cavs for Henson, Knight
The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired center Andre Drummond from the Detroit Pistons for Brandon Knight, John Henson, and a future second-round pick ahead of Thursday's deadline, the Cavs announced.
The pick will be the lower of the Cavaliers' and Golden State Warriors' second-round selections in 2023. Cleveland acquired the Warriors' 2023 second-rounder from the Utah Jazz as part of the Jordan Clarkson-Dante Exum swap in December.
Drummond appeared to be taken aback by the news.
If there’s one thing I learned about the NBA, there’s no friends or loyalty. I’ve given my heart and soul to the Pistons , and to be have this happen with no heads up makes me realize even more that this is just a business! I love you Detroit...
— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummond) February 6, 2020
The big man is averaging a career-high 17.8 points in 2019-20 and leads the league with 15.8 rebounds per game.
Drummond is earning $27 million this season. He owns a $28.7-million player option for 2020-21 but is not expected to exercise it in order to seek a max contract as a marquee option in an otherwise tepid free-agent class this summer.
Drummond's name began to surface in trade talks in January. The Atlanta Hawks were among the teams reportedly interested in the two-time All-Star but later pulled out of discussions. Atlanta shifted its focus to center Clint Capela, eventually acquiring him from the Houston Rockets in a four-team, 12-player blockbuster earlier this week.
Knight, who's been limited to just 16 games this season due in part to a knee injury, returns to the franchise that drafted him eighth overall in 2011. He's earning $15.6 million this season but is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
Henson is averaging five points and 3.9 rebounds on 14.2 minutes per contest. Like Knight, he has been hampered by injury this season; he missed 18 of the Cavaliers' first 19 games of the campaign with a right hamstring strain.