“Andre Drummond unlikely to join the Lakers from Free Agency next season”: NBA insider reports that unless Drummond accepts a veteran minimum, he could no longer be with LeBron James and co

The Los Angeles Lakers have some big decisions to make in this off-season especially regarding players like Andre Drummond in free agency.

The Lakers snapped up Andre Drummond from the buyout market and the whole NBA went berserk. A lot of people thought him to be the missing piece in the jigsaw for the Purple and Gold. However, the acquisition of the big man center did not go as planned for the reigning Champions.

Drummond who joined the Lakers hoping to help Frank Vogel to another NBA Championship did not have that much impact throughout the season.

In fact, he did not even feature in Game 6 against Devin Booker and Chris Paul’s Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs. It is the game that saw them get eliminated and yet Drummond was not called upon to help LeBron James and company.

Although the former Cleveland Cavaliers center averaged 14.9 points per game along with 12 rebounds and two assists, he did not make that everlasting impact that the Lakers wanted from him.

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Where will Andre Drummond end up in this off-season?

Drummond will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. According to Lakers Insider Jovan Buha, the big man will not return to be a Laker next season until and unless he accepts the lowest possible fee.

“Drummond is an archaic archetype, one that doesn’t translate well to the postseason as a starter. The Lakers pumped him up all season only to bench him in their biggest game of the season. His future is somewhat tied to Gasol and Harrell, both of whom will be covered below.”

“But unless he’s willing to accept a veteran minimum offer, or one of the Lakers’ available exceptions, depending on who they renounce and re-sign, Drummond will likely be elsewhere on opening night 2021.”

What did we learn about the Lakers’ free agents in their exit interviews last week?

Here’s what each Laker said about their future, what it means and what each player could be in line for this offseason.

New for @TheAthleticNBA: https://t.co/4EpGSTfN8q

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) June 7, 2021

Despite an underwhelming season, Drummond comes in with some handy qualities and hence he could earn more money in a different team if he chooses to leave the Lakers.

His exceptional rebounding ability and physical attribute make him a beast on the floor coupled with his defensive mobility and a lot of teams may use all those attributes to great effect.

Also Read: “Take Michael Jordan’s jersey off and wear your own jersey”: Shaquille O’Neal told Kobe Bryant to rep his own jersey after the Lakers beat the Nets in the 2002 NBA Finals

Hence Drummond’s future is still up in the air but the Lakers are safe with Marc Gasol still under contract. So only time will tell whether Drummond will don a Lakers shirt next season or not.