Big man Andre Drummond will pick up player option to stay with Cavaliers

Center Andre Drummond confirmed he will be exercising his player option that will keep him with the Cleveland Cavaliers and earn him $28.75 million for the 2020-21 NBA season.

"Yeah, it's going to be hard to give up, so you can count on me being in Cleveland still," Drummond said on the ESPN podcast "Le Batard & Friends." "I definitely will be in Cleveland."

This news should not come as a surprise to anyone familiar with Drummond's situation. He was unlikely to get more money by hitting the market during the offseason. Drummond, 26, had played all seven seasons of his career with the Pistons before Detroit traded him to the Cavaliers last season. He has averaged 14.5 points and 13.8 rebounds over the course of his career, making two All-Star teams.

Cavaliers GM Koby Altman said in February that he hoped Drummond would pick up his player option and stay with the Cavaliers.

"For us, I think in terms of his age and what he brings to our team, absolutely we consider him a potential long-term play," Altman said. "Obviously he has a player option that, if he picks up, we think we're in good shape in terms of our cap space. There's no better money spent than Andre Drummond if he does pick up his player option."

The Cavaliers are tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the second-worst record in the league and were one of the eight NBA teams not invited to resume the season in Orlando.