Last winter, Knicks Brass discussed trade internally for downtown Detroit, Andre Drummond, who had an opt-out to become a free agent.
The Knicks weren’t too concerned about keeping Drummond if he signed out. The Mount Vernon resident, the Knicks thought, would likely want to re-sign with his hometown team.
In fact, the then president of Knicks, Steve Mills, is close to Drummond’s family.
In the end, the Knicks decided not to, committed to a rebuild and center for Mitchell Robinson. On February 6, Drummond was handed out to the Cavaliers. He exercised his $ 28.7 million option for 2020-21 due to the shortened pandemic free agency, and remained in Cleveland.
Flash forward a year later and the Cavaliers try to trade the former UConn star for rent as well. They bankrupted the two-time All-Star this week until they commit to a deal.
The Raptors, sources confirm, are in the bidding. But it is not an easy financial trade with Drummond’s substantial wages.
When Robinson leaves the hospital for special surgery after his shooting hand surgery, until mid to late March, the Knicks should take a look at Drummond – not just as a rental, but as a piece to build around with the power of Julius Randle.
Some members of the Knicks organization aren’t sure if Randle and Drummond would make the right choice. Some in the league feel that Robinson is a better long-term piece to build around, despite his offensive lack of progression.
Will Robinson continue to evolve his game into more than just a shot blocker / rebounder / alley-oop master? The Knicks have a team option for Robinson for next season for $ 1.8 million, so they can find out cheaply.
The Knicks still have $ 15 million in cap space to make a Drummond transaction mathematically easier. They have enough design capital on hand so that some can be saved. There are also two youngsters from the rotation that the Cavaliers may be craving – Kevin Knox or Frank Ntilikina.
If Drummond is cheap, what will the Knicks have to lose if they find that he and Randle aren’t mixing?
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau squeezed every ounce of talent out of this team. They hit the 0.500 mark in Orlando on Wednesday for their rotten 33-point second half.
In reality, the Knicks have outdone 14-16, healthier than most clubs this season.
Robinson was the first significant victim, and his absence eventually hurt them in Orlando. Not easy trash cans for offensive rebounds, alley-oop slams, momentum-turning blocked shots, or major defensive rebounds. New starter Nerlens Noel is a poor man’s Robinson and does everything a little less efficiently.
Mind you, Robinson is not sure as a full-fledged starter on a legitimate playoff team. Rookie-lottery pick and power forward Obi Toppin, unsure as a future starter, is picked off, as one scout put it, “a historically poor draw”.
Robinson has often been injured by the reckless – and wonderful – way he plays and fights. He flies over the runway blocking shots on the 3-point line. He broke his hand on a block attempt when he collided with Randle’s elbow on his way down Friday in Washington.
Robinson is an old-fashioned center and so is the wrecking ball Drummond, although Drummond’s game grows at the age of 27. Robinson’s offensive repertoire hasn’t grown.
Drummond has been a double-doubles machine for a few years now, but now he shoots better (59.7 percent) free throws. Scouts say he’s one of the few centers who can grab a rebound and push the ball upward. He has ball skills and has become a good passer.
Drummond’s hefty numbers always seemed bigger than the general picture, but he averages 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He has also been very durable during his nine-year career.
According to sources, the Knicks are “currently tight” regarding the situation in the center. They want to see the Noel-Taj Gibson center tandem play as they fight for a playoff berth.
Before defeating the Knicks, Orlando coach Steve Clifford paid tribute to them, saying, “They would be one of the teams that people don’t want to play against. I don’t think there is a greater compliment in this league than being difficult to play against. “
At some point, Leon Rose has to upgrade their talent level. Orlando defeated the Knicks without their best player, Aaron Gordon, key rotation man James Ennis and starting point guard Markelle Fultz.
Even Jeff Van Gundy recently said that the Knicks “don’t have enough offensive talent.” Meanwhile, the Knicks looked to the 2021 free-agent class after a quiet signing period dried up in November.
Thibodeau wants to win this season – and in the future. The boy from Mount Vernon can help the Knicks do both.