Knicks signing Andre Drummond on $3.9 million contract to fill Mitchell Robinson void
The Knicks are signing a local product and familiar name as their backup center veteran.
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Andre Drummond, who is from Mount Vernon and had been linked to the Knicks in previous years, agreed to a one-year, veteran minimum ($3.9 million) deal with New York, league sources confirmed.
The 32-year-old offers size, strong rebounding and a glut of experience but is well past his prime, having served as a backup for most of the last four seasons. Drummond’s career drop off from his All-Star peak is likely why the Knicks were able to secure the 6-foot-11 piece at such a small salary, a necessity for them to stay under the second apron.
Drummond played the last two years for the rival Sixers as Joel Embiid’s backup, averaging 6.3 points and 8.4 rebounds last season in 19.5 minutes. He’s a downgrade from Mitchell Robinson — who left in free agency for Boston — but a strong body to eat up minutes for Karl-Anthony Towns.
His greatest asset remains rebounding. Drummond was second to Robinson last season in boards per 36 minutes with 15.6. He led the league in rebounding four times and, unlike Robinson, cured his free-throw shooting problems — Drummond went from 37% from the charity stripe as a rookie to a career-best 63% last season.
Hack-A-Drummond no longer works. Drummond is also more durable than Robinson and shockingly developed a 3-pointer last season in Philly, knocking down a career-best (by far) 32 treys. Still, his weaknesses are shooting and conditioning. He was again forced to take a minimum deal after expressing a desire to avoid it.
“I’m not willing to play less than my worth,” Drummond said about free agency in a since-deleted interview posted on Youtube. “I did that once and then I got labeled as one of those guys, and I think it really killed my value in the NBA because I’m still moving like I’m in my mid-20s. I still have a lot left in the tank. I think by taking that pay cut … I feel like I’ve been climbing out of a hole for the last 4-5 years. It’s been hard.”
Drummond’s climb continues on an expiring minimum deal but the Knicks can offer a pathway to a bigger payday — a rotation spot and a legitimate chance at a championship.
The Knicks still have two roster spots to fill and roughly $6.5 million remaining under the second apron. Jonas Valanciunas, another veteran center, is a target to further bolster the frontcourt depth, according to The Athletic.
Jordan Clarkson, a guard, is also a candidate to return, sources said.
The biggest free agent remaining — LeBron James — is “very, very unlikely” to sign with the Knicks, even if he were willing to accept a minimum deal, sources said. Among the reasons from both sides, as outlined by LeBron’s agent Rich Paul, is the Knicks are coming off a title and, “The last thing you want to do is mess up something like that. The Knicks have a good thing.”
The Knicks had previously discussed signing center Marvin Bagley III, but the former second overall pick instead joined the Nuggets.
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