The New York Knicks already have a stud Center, Mitchell Robinson, that’s why trading for Andre Drummond would make no sense.
The New York Knicks have recently inquired about Detroit Pistons C Andre Drummond, according to Shams Charania of Stadium. A deal doesn’t seem in place and doesn’t make much sense for New York. The Knicks have an abundance of big men on their roster with guys like Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson, and young stud Mitchell Robinson all vying for playing time at the Center and Power Forward position.
The Pistons are looking to get one or two first-round picks and expiring contracts as matching salary to take on the All-Star big man. Reports of the Knicks being adamant about not giving up any premium draft capital along with the player option Drummond has attached to his expiring contract at the end of the season should make this an easy decision for New York. It wouldn’t make any sense for Knicks brass to make this deal nor entertain it.
But beyond the fact that Andre Drummond is a max contract player with a player option for next season, the most important part of this deal is the growth of their current center. Mitchell Robinson is arguably the Knicks best and most exciting player with two more years of control on a very team friendly deal — and at twenty one years old, it shouldn’t even be a discussion. Robinson has struggled with foul trouble which has kept him from eclipsing more than the 22 minutes per game that he’s currently averaging.
Based upon NBA advanced stats per 36 minutes player comparison, Mitchell Robinson and Andre Drummond aren’t much different. They both average a double-double with points and rebounds — with Robinson at 2.8 blocks per game, that type of production coupled with the almost five years in age difference should make this a fairly easy decision for the Knicks front office. Stay away from Andre Drummond, keep Mitchell Robinson and help develop him into the All-Star he has potential becoming.
New York spent 80 Million dollars on the center and power forward position in the off-season. There isn’t a lack of size on this roster and reaching on an all-star in the middle of a season where your team fired its head coach, has 11 wins through the first 40 games, struggle with three point shooting, and are in the bottom of the league statistically in free throw percentage would be another head scratching decision for a franchise looking for consistency and wins.
Acquiring Drummond would contradict Steve Mills and Scott Perry’s decision to not attempt to sign guys like Kemba Walker and Jimmy Butler, star players who would require max money but who couldn’t take an organization from losing to championship contenders all alone, like Kawhi Leonard or Kevin Durant.
The Knicks sit 7.5 game behind the Orlando Magic for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff standings and relevance — trading for Andre Drummond wouldn’t change that.
New York should allow interim head coach Mike MIller and his staff the opportunity to develop the young talent already on this team and could prove to be imperative for this franchise’s future — maybe, just maybe making the final 42 games an interesting watch.