:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66269447/1198878646.jpg.0.jpg)
The Detroit Pistons surprised everyone when trading Andre Drummond to the Cleveland Cavaliers with hours left before the end of the NBA trade deadline including Andre Drummond.
The two-time All-Star who sits near the top of most franchise leaderboards for big men didn’t go quietly, though. He took to social media to express his love for the fans and the city of Detroit while at the same time making it clear he was not happy with how things went down.
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
Cont... you will always have a special place in my heart! But on to the next @cavs hope your ready! Let’s finish the year off the right way
— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummond) February 6, 2020
“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 ... you will always have a special place in my heart! But on to the next @cavs hope your ready! Let’s finish this year off the right way”
I will always feel for a player who wants to simply know what’s going on with their own career, but I don’t exactly blame the team for not looping in the big man. It’s been obvious for a while that trading Drummond was no sure thing and that the big man’s market wasn’t strong enough to involve him in the process or decision making.
If the Cavs trade, which, to be clear, is an awful return from an asset perspective didn’t materialize then I don’t think Drummond would have been traded at all. The Pistons were obviously motivated to move Dre and avoid the possibility of him picking up his $28 million team option, but the market just wasn’t there.
I hope the organization does something special for Drummond either in the immediate future or next season when he rolls back into town on the Cavs roster or someone else’s. Drummond was certainly not the problem in Detroit. He was an extremely talented, if flawed, player who never had the pieces around him that would allow him and team to be successful.
Too many injuries, too many bad contracts handed out, too many bad coaches, etc.
Now Drummond gets a fresh start. I hope he seizes it and opens some eyes on just what he can be. Probably isn’t going to happen this season in Cleveland, though.