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According to Shams Charania, the Knicks are signing Andre Drummond after Mitchell Robinson left New York for the Boston Celtics.
It is not a perfect one-for-one swap, but it gives the Knicks a veteran center who can fill some of the same functional needs in the frontcourt.
Robinson was a major part of New York’s identity. His value did not come from post touches, shooting, or offensive variety. It came from his physical presence. He protected the rim, finished around the basket, attacked the offensive glass, and gave the Knicks extra possessions with his size and timing. Losing that kind of player changes the frontcourt for a team.
Drummond is not the same defender.
At this stage of his career, he is not going to cover ground like Robinson, erase shots at the same level or give the Knicks the same vertical presence around the rim. Robinson’s defensive value came from his length, mobility and ability to deter shots without needing the ball. Drummond can still be physical, but he is not the same kind of back-line anchor.
The comparison of offensive rebounding is also an issue.
Drummond has been one of the best rebounders of his generation, but Robinson’s role in New York was built around relentless offensive glass work. He created possessions through tip-outs, putbacks, and pure pressure around the rim. Drummond can still rebound at a high level, but he may not replicate the exact way Robinson changed possessions for the Knicks.
Still, Drummond brings value.
He can clean the glass. He can set hard screens. He can give New York a big body who understands positioning and can survive in a defined role. The Knicks do not need him to be a star. They need him to absorb minutes, rebound, finish easy chances, and provide solid frontcourt depth.
There is also a small wrinkle worth watching: the jumper.
Drummond has shown more willingness to step away from the basket and take open shots. Nobody should mistake him for a stretch center, but the fact that he has started to experiment more with his shooting gives the Knicks something different than Robinson offered. Even if defenses do not fully respect it yet, any development there could slightly change how lineups function.
Overall, Drummond is not Robinson. He will not replace every part of what Robinson gave New York. But he can give the Knicks rebounding, physicality, screening, and veteran frontcourt depth at a manageable price.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected].
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It is not a perfect one-for-one swap, but it gives the Knicks a veteran center who can fill some of the same functional needs in the frontcourt.
Robinson was a major part of New York’s identity. His value did not come from post touches, shooting, or offensive variety. It came from his physical presence. He protected the rim, finished around the basket, attacked the offensive glass, and gave the Knicks extra possessions with his size and timing. Losing that kind of player changes the frontcourt for a team.
Drummond is not the same defender.
At this stage of his career, he is not going to cover ground like Robinson, erase shots at the same level or give the Knicks the same vertical presence around the rim. Robinson’s defensive value came from his length, mobility and ability to deter shots without needing the ball. Drummond can still be physical, but he is not the same kind of back-line anchor.
The comparison of offensive rebounding is also an issue.
Drummond has been one of the best rebounders of his generation, but Robinson’s role in New York was built around relentless offensive glass work. He created possessions through tip-outs, putbacks, and pure pressure around the rim. Drummond can still rebound at a high level, but he may not replicate the exact way Robinson changed possessions for the Knicks.
Still, Drummond brings value.
He can clean the glass. He can set hard screens. He can give New York a big body who understands positioning and can survive in a defined role. The Knicks do not need him to be a star. They need him to absorb minutes, rebound, finish easy chances, and provide solid frontcourt depth.
There is also a small wrinkle worth watching: the jumper.
Drummond has shown more willingness to step away from the basket and take open shots. Nobody should mistake him for a stretch center, but the fact that he has started to experiment more with his shooting gives the Knicks something different than Robinson offered. Even if defenses do not fully respect it yet, any development there could slightly change how lineups function.
Overall, Drummond is not Robinson. He will not replace every part of what Robinson gave New York. But he can give the Knicks rebounding, physicality, screening, and veteran frontcourt depth at a manageable price.
Join The 76ersRoundtable
Head over to the 76ersRoundtable page and hit the "Join" button under the featured story... it's completely FREE! You'll have the opportunity to engage with other 76ers fans who live and breathe the team, share your thoughts on the organization, and more. If you're asked to sign up or download the Roundtable app... that's free too.
Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected].
Continue reading...
