Toronto Raptors: Cavaliers present ideal centre trade targets

Could the Toronto Raptors revisit Andre Drummond as a target?

Andre Drummond has been linked to the Raptors before. Heck, even I’ve linked him to the Raptors. And I still think its a good idea, to an extent.

On the one hand, Drummond solves a huge problem for the Raptors. I mentioned that Kevin Love won one TRB title. Drummond has won four. Given that Toronto is in the bottom third of the league in rebounding, bringing Drummond aboard would turn this glaring negative into a positive.

But have you ever heard the saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?” Drummond is one of the last true back-to-the-basket bigs in the league, as he is a threat from nowhere other than right underneath the hoop. Whereas there could be a shot lurking deep inside a player like Allen, that ship has likely sailed with a 10-year veteran like Drummond.

With that being said, the two-time all-star is a free agent at the end of this season. The NBA is a different place from the time when he signed his five-year, $130 million contract with the Detroit Pistons, as Drummond likely won’t command such a high valuation this time around.

With that being said, even though it feels like he’s been in the league forever, he’s only 27. Still in his prime, is there space for an elite rebounder and rim-protector with offensive limitations? The Big Penguin may be looking for a long-term deal, and if this is the case, the Raptors should bow out. But, if his camp is willing to talk in terms of one to three years, a flyer on a consistent performer like Drummond could be worth it.