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Los Angeles Lakers: Why Andre Drummond won’t return after this season

By Jason Reed

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 10: Andre Drummond #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers heads for the net as LaMarcus Aldridge #21 of the Brooklyn Nets defends in the second half at Barclays Center on April 10, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 10: Andre Drummond #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers heads for the net as LaMarcus Aldridge #21 of the Brooklyn Nets defends in the second half at Barclays Center on April 10, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. Andre Drummond is not going to fit under the Los Angeles Lakers’ budget

The Los Angeles Lakers are already in a bit of a cap situation after this season. Dennis Schroder rejected the team’s four-year, $84 million extension and they are going to have to pony up even more money to keep him around. Montrezl Harrell has a player option and both Alex Caruso and Talen Horton-Tucker are free agents.

The Lakers already do not have much wiggle room and they are going to have to decide on the future of those three players plus the future at the center position as well as replacing smaller role players like Wesley Matthews and Markieff Morris if they sign elsewhere.

You could make the case that Drummond is part of those plans but I think he will price himself out of LA. Drummond is not going to get the contract that he previously had, which was untradeable, but there will be a team out there that is willing to give him $16-20 million over two years.

With all of the other variables, it does not make sense for the Los Angeles Lakers to pay that much for Andre Drummond.

All the proof we need is Tristan Thompson. Thompson is essentially the 90% version of Andre Drummond and the Boston Celtics signed him to a two-year, $18.9 million contract last offseason. The floor for Drummond is $16 million over two years.

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