Knicks Add Andre Drummond
The Knicks land a capable backup center while preserving the financial flexibility needed to chase another championship.
Just hours before America’s 250th birthday, Knicks fans were gifted a capable backup center.
Multiple outlets reported this evening that Andre Drummond has agreed to a one-year deal with the Knicks for the veteran minimum.
Because Drummond has more than 10 years of NBA experience, he’ll earn roughly $3.9 million. Thanks to the league’s veteran-minimum reimbursement rules, however, he’ll count just $2.4 million against the Knicks’ salary cap and apron.
No one is throwing a parade over the addition of a 15-year veteran backup center, but this move certainly makes sense.
The market for capable reserve centers was rapidly drying up, and the Knicks landed one of the better remaining options without sacrificing financial flexibility. Drummond gives New York a dependable regular-season innings eater behind Karl-Anthony Towns while buying Leon Rose time to evaluate the roster before the trade deadline.
Rather than overcommitting long-term, the Knicks purchased an inexpensive insurance policy. If Drummond proves to be enough, great. If not, New York still has ample flexibility to explore the trade market this winter.
Drummond is obviously not the player he once was (a former two-time All-Star and one of the most prolific rebounders in NBA history), but he was solid last season for the Sixers
He finished the 2025-26 campaign averaging 6.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in less than 20 minutes per contest while shooting 47.2% from the field, 35.6% from three-point range and 63.1% from the free-throw stripe across 63 games. In the postseason, he slashed 70/50/70%
Drummond can be exploited defensively (Philly allowed more than 126 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor in the 2026 playoffs), and his offensive game is very limited, but the Knicks will really only ask him to rebound the basketball and set solid screens.
That he can handle.
We know Drummond can dominate the glass. The big man ripped down the 11,000th rebound of his career in October and now ranks inside the top-30 all-time in NBA history. Drummond joins LeBron James as the only two active players with 11,000 boards.
His résumé is absurd:
Four-time NBA rebounding champion
92 career 20-rebound games, the most by any player since entering the league in 2012.
30 games with at least 10 offensive rebounds, also the most during that span.
The NBA’s only player to record four separate seasons with at least 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 100 steals and 100 blocks.
While obviously no longer in his prime, Drummond is only 32 years old and saw his rebound rate tick up 23.5% last season.
He can also use his size to set some bone-shattering picks.
The past postseason also led the NBA in screen assists (7.3) and screen-assist points (179) per-36 minutes.
It’s also worth noting that Drummond surprisingly expanded his game to the three-point arc in 2025-26 as well. He was 32-for-90 from downtown (35.6%) during the regular season and 4-for-8 in the playoffs.
The Knicks, looking to repeat as NBA champions for the first time in franchise history, are looking for players who won’t come in and rock the boat. Drummond checks that box as well.
He’s a native New Yorker (born and raised in Mount Vernon) who grew up as a Knicks fan. He’s earned a reputation as a quality locker-room guy who has shown a willingness to embrace his role off the bench. He fits the type of personality this front office has consistently prioritized.
The financial aspect may be even more important.
With Drummond counting less than $2.5 million against the cap, the Knicks remain comfortably below the second apron and still have room to add two more veteran-minimum contracts. Jordan Clarkson is expected to fill one of those spots, while another frontcourt addition remains possible.
As I noted earlier this week, losing Mitch Rob hurts, but the opportunity cost of bringing him back was substantial. Instead, the Knicks replace Robinson with Drummond, save approximately $13 million in cap room, remain well below the second apron, and preserve the flexibility to improve the roster during the season if the right opportunity presents itself.
For a championship team navigating the NBA’s increasingly restrictive CBA, that flexibility may prove almost as valuable as the backup center himself.
We’ll have plenty more to break down in the coming days.
Until then, enjoy the holiday weekend, everybody!
Very solid pickup as Drummond is as good a rebounder as Mitch and almost as good off the offensive glass. Robinson is a far superior defender and shot blocker but Drummond is much better at screens and picks. Drummond has developed a semblance of a three-point shot and has worked to become an adequate free throw shooter. Robinson of course is a horrendous free shooter.
But as Tommy notes, what’s most important is that this is a savvy move to replace some of what Robinson provides but at a much lower price point. The Knicks have enough to sign two more guys at the vet minimum but also retains flexibility to improve the team through trades. With Deuce, Dadiet and picks, the Knicks have ammunition.
Smart front offices do smart things. The Knicks are one of the best run franchises in the NBA. Going into the 2nd apron for Mitch (a backup center) was a bad idea. KAT's defense was so good in the playoffs that you no longer need to take him out for defensive possessions, making Mitch even less necessary. Drummond will be fine for now, and if not, they still have flexibility to make a deal at the deadline. Curious if Valanciunas gets waived and will sign for the vet minimum. If they can sign him and Clarkson, they'll be good to go