Fresh off winning the NBA championship, the New York Knicks had some tough decisions to make this summer. Even with guys like Mitchell Robinson, Jordan Clarkson, Jose Alvarado, and Landry Shamet headed for free agency, owner James Dolan insisted that his team would not cross the second apron.
With Robinson now on the Boston Celtics, the Knicks’ center rotation is concerningly light, but there were plenty of alternatives available, including veteran big man Andre Drummond. On Friday, the Knicks signed Drummond for the veteran’s minimum ($3.9 million), successfully replacing Robinson’s production off the bench.
“The Knicks were in the center market after Mitchell Robinson left for Boston. They have found their backup five on Friday, agreeing to terms with Andre Drummond,” reported Ian Begley. “Drummond, they think, brings great veteran experience; he’s a very good rebounder and brings playoff experience. Those are the things that drew the Knicks to the former Mount Vernon star. You lose Robinson because you weren’t gonna go above the second apron, so they were never gonna be able to offer Robinson a significant contract while also staying under that second apron. In Drummond, they get him on the veteran’s minimum, and they remain well under the second apron, about $6 million in room.”
In a league that’s becoming more and more about depth, Drummond’s addition cannot be understated for the Knicks. While he may not play a massive role, he can still provide a boost in the paint with career averages of 6.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game on 47.2% shooting and 35.6% shooting from three this past season.
Going forward, we shouldn’t expect any massive changes from the Knicks (unless it’s bringing in LeBron James), but they aren’t completely done yet. With roughly $6 million in space, they have enough room to make one or two more moves. According to Begley, they want to use that remaining money to re-sign sharpshooting guard Jordan Clarkson. There’s also the possibility of picking up Jonas Valanciunas if he gets bought out or waived by the Nuggets.
“What do they do with that room? I know they have expressed a desire to bring back Jordan Clarkson, who played a pivotal role in the Knicks’ championship season,” Begley added. “Also, Jonas Valanciunas, if he becomes free, they see him as a potential third center, behind Drummond. So, still a few moves to make.”
Ultimately, the Knicks are doing what they set out to do when the offseason began. Rather than shake things up in a big way, they replaced some of their losses without hurting their flexibility. It’s smart maneuvering that maintains the precious balance between staying competitive and ensuring financial stability.
No matter which way you slice it, the Knicks are winners in free agency this year. With their core intact, there’s no doubt they will be in play to win their second-straight title. Who else they bring in remains to be seen, but the Knicks are in no rush to take action. Whether it’s this summer or during the season, they have the assets and the flexibility to tweak their team as needed, and that’s a powerful combo to have in today’s NBA.
