Andre Drummond joins the defending champion Knicks on a one-year deal to replace Mitchell Robinson
The defending champion New York Knicks have found their answer at center. Andre Drummond is coming home. The Mount Vernon, New York native has agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million contract with the Knicks, stepping into the role vacated by Mitchell Robinson, who signed a three-year, $47.1 million deal with the Boston Celtics earlier this week.
Who Drummond is and what he brings
Drummond enters his 14th NBA season as one of the most decorated big men of his generation who never quite became a superstar but never stopped being useful. A two-time All-Star and four-time rebounding champion earlier in his career, he spent the past two seasons in Philadelphia as the backup center behind Joel Embiid. Last season he appeared in 63 games, starting 25 of them, and averaged 6.4 points and 8.4 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game. He was still among the most productive rebounders in the league on a per-minute basis.
He will turn 33 in August and will serve as the primary backup to Karl-Anthony Towns in New York’s frontcourt rotation. The Knicks will carry a cap hit of roughly $2.45 million on the deal while Drummond earns the minimum salary of $3.88 million.
Why the Knicks made this move
Robinson’s departure was the one significant roster loss from the team that just won the NBA championship, and filling his role was the front office’s primary offseason priority. Robinson had been a cornerstone of the Knicks’ bench for years, providing rebounding, interior defense, and energy that played a real role in their title run. His exit was driven by owner James Dolan’s firm stance on not exceeding the second luxury tax apron, a financial ceiling that made offering Robinson a competitive deal impossible once Boston came in with a three-year commitment.
Drummond does not replicate Robinson perfectly. He is four years older, a step behind on defense, and does not carry the same mobility. But he rebounds at an elite rate and showed a new dimension to his game last season, connecting on 35.6% of his three-point attempts, the first time in his career he made a real effort to stretch the floor. Robinson has never attempted a three-pointer in an NBA game.
What comes next for New York
The Knicks may not stop at Drummond. After reportedly losing backup center Ariel Hukporti to the Philadelphia 76ers, New York has been monitoring the market for additional frontcourt depth. Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas has been identified as a preferred option if he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The defending champions have otherwise managed to retain key contributors from their title run, including Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado, and Mohamed Diawara.
For Drummond, returning to play in his home state at MSG as a member of the defending champions is a full-circle moment for a career that has taken him through Detroit, Cleveland, the Lakers, Brooklyn, Chicago, and Philadelphia. The Knicks are betting his best years are not entirely behind him.