The Toronto Raptors are looking for frontcourt reinforcements ahead of next month's trade deadline.
Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer reported the Raptors are interested in acquiring Cleveland Cavaliers center Andre Drummond:
Andre Drummond is the biggest name. Drummond will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and had an extremely limited trade market one year ago when the Pistons dealt him to Cleveland. The Raptors are among the teams interested in Drummond now, league sources say.
The Raptors replaced Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka with Aron Baynes and Alex Len this past offseason, but neither addition has been very fruitful.
Toronto waived Len in January. Baynes has started in all 20 of his appearances, though the production has been lackluster. He is averaging just 5.3 points, shooting 40 percent from the field and failing to replicate Gasol's role as a stretch-5.
Drummond is not much of a shooter, either. But the 27-year-old dominates on the boards, and has been especially impactful on the defensive end of the floor. Drummond is averaging 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game, ranking third in defensive rating and fourth in defensive win shares, per Basketball-Reference.
The Raptors could stand to add an interior presence like Drummond. Toronto ranks 17th in defensive rating and is 29th in defensive rebounding. Drummond would give the Raptors toughness in the paint, and he would pair nicely with the inside-out abilities of Chris Boucher.
It remains to be seen just how high the Cavs sell on Drummond, or whether Cleveland ultimately orchestrates a buyout. Regardless, the Raptors have interest in the two-time All-Star.
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