![]() But when you come with the expectations and promises that Drummond did, simply being “one of the guys” was not enough to satisfy everyone. Ultimately, he was a role player who had good games and bad. It’s hard to draw a sweeping conclusion, then, of Drummond’s time in Los Angeles. But in the same vein, when the chips were on the table and the Lakers were in a win-or-go-home situation, just like Montrezl Harrell, Drummond was strapped to the bench. Still, Drummond played 24 minutes in the Lakers Game 2 win over Phoenix in the first round, and 20 minutes in the Game 3 win, combining for 21 points and 23 rebounds in those two victories. When Davis was healthy, that often forced him out of the paint and clogged the driving lanes for the Lakers. He also was an old-school player offensively, unable to stretch the floor either horizontally to the 3-point line or vertically as a lob threat. Whereas the aforementioned McGee and Howard could be rim protectors, Drummond could not, and struggled at times in the Lakers' schemes. ![]() He wasn’t an innocent bystander by any means, as his defensive shortcomings limited what the Lakers could do effectively on that end of the court. ![]() Drummond, the midseason acquisition that came with such fanfare, was the easiest target. This season, a title didn’t come, which means second-guessing and finger-pointing. Last season, JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard were benched, the Lakers won and it was all chalked up to necessary sacrifices to win a title. When both returned, however, the Lakers had an abundance of talented bigs, and only 48 minutes to play them. With both out or limited, Drummond’s role was rather clear. Drummond was brought in because of lengthy absences from Anthony Davis with Achilles tendinosis and Marc Gasol with COVID. For much of the season, the Lakers were swapping out big men. Therein, though, lies the conundrum with Drummond. In that span, only Marc Gasol and Markieff Morris had higher figures. When Drummond was on the floor for the Lakers, they were 4.8 points better per 100 possessions than they were when he sat on the bench. The only players who ranked above Drummond from the time he joined the Lakers in rebounding rate (not including the playoffs) were Dwight Howard, Clint Capela, Enes Kanter and Rudy Gobert. As a Laker, he had a 23.1% rebounding rate, which means that when Drummond was on the floor, roughly one out of every four rebounds were his. What he did bring to the table was about what you’d expect. But it was everything he wasn’t that that fans often focused on. ![]() In reality, Drummond was a rotation player that had moments where he did resemble something like his best self. By season’s end, Drummond served as a lightning rod for the criticisms and frustrations for how the season ended. That buzz created expectations and an environment that, barring a return to his prime form, amounted to a no-win situation for Drummond.Ĭertainly, no favors were done with reports of a promised starting spot, and the ire of fans only grew larger the more Marc Gasol found himself benched. How did he play?Īndre Drummond's midseason arrival in Los Angeles after getting a buyout from the Cavaliers created so much buzz and drama that it sparked calls for the league to change its rules on the matter. Today, we take a closer look at Andre Drummond. ![]() Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll be taking a look back at every player on the team’s roster this season, evaluating their play, and deciding if they should be a part of the organization’s future. ![]()
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