If you’re a true NY Knicks fan, you’d know that a move for Andre Drummond was destined to happen.
It’s the most Knicks-esque move there could possibly be.
Andre Drummond hasn’t played in a game since February 12th as the Cavaliers organization decided that they wouldn’t be retaining him past this season and would much rather focus on trading the Mount Vernon, NY native.
Should the NY Knicks trade for Andre Drummond?
Since then, the rumors have swirled viciously and the Knicks have been brought up as a potential suitor numerous times.
I’ve traded for Andre Drummond before in a previous article, but it doesn’t mean I would want it to actually happen. This new rumor doesn’t make me happy in the slightest.
Sam Amico of fourtyeightminutes.com wrote that the Knicks are currently the frontrunners in a trade for the big man, but there’s also a number of other potential landing spots available such as the Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Chicago Bulls.
The primary reason why a lot of those teams would have a hard time landing the UConn alum is that he comes with a massive, nearly $29 million salary and would be difficult for most to absorb that into their cap space…
The NY Knicks have entered the chat…
The Knicks currently have $17 million of cap space available, so facilitating a trade for Drummond would be a lot easier than with most of the others mentioned.
Here’s a trade I think could work:
The Knicks would have to include all 3 of those players just to make the swapping salaries work for both sides.
Frank Ntilikina is an interesting piece for a young Cavs squad, Iggy could be further developed, and Reggie Bullock could be waived and sign on with a new team.
The Knicks get back Andre Drummond and a 2023 2nd round draft selection from the Cavaliers for having to absorb Drummond’s albatross of a contract.
As some may know, the 2023 draft will be the first in quite a while where the NBA will be accepting players directly from High School instead of how it is now where players must be at least one year removed from High School in order to qualify for draft eligibility.
This draft is being considered a “double draft” for those reasons, so the Knicks would further grow their stockpile of picks in 2023, with this one making it a total of 6 draft selections that year.
After seeing Blake Griffin get bought out by the Pistons, I can’t see how Andre Drummond’s fate is any different.
For one, as mentioned before, Drummond’s contract is going to be hard to move.
Second, Mitchell Robinson is coming back from his hand injury sooner than later, so looking for a free-agent depth piece should be the next move for Leon Rose instead of trading for Drummond.
Having Robinson and Drummond vying for the starting job can really mess up the team’s oh so delicate chemistry.
Final verdict: If Drummond is bought out, sure…bring him here for nothing. I’m not trading anything for him though. Let him choose where he wants to play himself. Doubt he’s choosing the Knicks if he had a say in the matter anyway.