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Lakers' Drummond 'still trying to figure it out' amid offensive drought

Kent Smith / National Basketball Association / Getty

Los Angeles Lakers center Andre Drummond admitted that he's still getting acclimated to his new team, especially at the offensive end.

Drummond, who signed with the Lakers last month following a buyout by the Cleveland Cavaliers, posted just four points in Tuesday's 101-93 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. That performance came a night after a three-point effort in a loss to the New York Knicks.

"Offensively, this is probably the worst I've played in my career," Drummond said postgame Tuesday, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

"I'm still trying to figure it out here. I'm not allowing it to take me out of my game. I know why I'm here, which is to help this team defensively. Offensively, it will come for me."

The performances against Charlotte and New York marked the second-fewest points in back-to-back games for Drummond when he's played at least 20 minutes in each matchup, per ESPN Stats & Information.

Drummond is averaging 10.5 points since joining the Lakers after posting 17.5 points per game in 25 appearances for the Cavs this season.

The two-time All-Star cited LeBron James and Anthony Davis' injury-related absences as a potential reason for his current funk.

"I think for us as a team, we're going to find a way to get it done when guys come back healthy," Drummond said.

"Because you got to think, we're playing with a different five every night when we're stepping on the court. So you can't expect us to have much chemistry when we don't know who we're playing with each and every night. So we're hanging our hat on defense and allowing that to project us to a win."

Lakers coach Frank Vogel agreed with Drummond's assessment, saying, "I think having LeBron out there with him will contribute, and AD, two of the elite playmakers.

"We just have to take what the defense gives us, which was a lot of perimeter shots, a lot of drive-and-kick situations, and it didn't result in Drum having a high point total," Vogel added about the Lakers' last two opponents.

Teammate Kyle Kuzma thinks Drummond's struggles can be attributed to him finally being part of a winning program following stints in Cleveland and Detroit.

"I mean, it's just a process, man. It's not going to happen overnight. Rome wasn't built overnight," Kuzma said. "I think for him, it's a big adjustment. When you think about it, he's kind of never really been coached in his career - in Detroit, in Cleveland, and then coming here to a championship organization, it's tough.

"He's handled it well, and it's an adjustment period, and I think once the two big dogs get back, it's going to be much, much easier for him because it's going to be a lot more simplified. And you'll see some big impact games from him down the road," Kuzma added.

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