LOS ANGELES — Cleveland Cavaliers former center Andre Drummond is heading west, signing with the Los Angeles Lakers after reaching a buyout agreement with Cleveland.
OFFICIAL: We got Dre. Welcome to the Lakers Family, @AndreDrummond! pic.twitter.com/AGtLwOq38h
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 29, 2021
Drummond was benched prior to the NBA trade deadline while the Cavs worked to find a trade for Drummond, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
The Cavs agreed to a buyout on Friday and after Drummond cleared waivers on Sunday he signed with the Lakers, who were projected as frontrunners to sign the All-Star center.
In the 25 games Drummond played for the Cavs this season, he averaged 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game.
Cleveland acquired Drummond near the trade deadline last year. In exchange for the two-time All-Star, the Cavaliers sent Brandon Knight, John Henson and a second-round pick to the Detroit Pistons. Drummond exercised his $28.7 million contract option in November to stay with the team this season.
In his nine seasons in the NBA, Drummond has appeared in 624 games with career averages of 14.6 points per game, shooting .538 from the field with 13.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.6 blocks in 30.9 minutes.
Drummond will join LeBron James and Anthony Davis as the Lakers aim to win back-to-back championships—and according to his Instagram, Drummond is ready to get back to work.
RELATED: Cavaliers reach buyout agreement with Andre Drummond after failing to trade him before deadline
