Last winter, the Knicks’ chiefs internally discussed negotiating the Detroit center Andre Drummond, who had an opt-out clause to become a free agent.
The Knicks were not too concerned with keeping Drummond if he gave up. The Mount Vernon native, the Knicks believed, would probably like to sign again with his hometown team.
In fact, the then president of Knicks, Steve Mills, is close to the Drummond family.
Eventually, the Knicks decided against it, committed to a rebuild and Mitchell Robinson center. On February 6, Drummond was traded to the Cavaliers. He exercised his $ 28.7 million option for 2020-21 because of the reduction of the pandemic-free agency and remained in Cleveland.
Move forward a year later and the Cavaliers are trying to negotiate the former UConn star, too, as a rental. They stayed on the bench at the twice All-Star this week until they commit to a deal.
The Raptors, the sources confirm, are in the bidding. But it is not an easy financial deal with Drummond’s considerable wages.
As Robinson leaves the Hospital for special surgery after the operation on his sniper hand, until mid-March, the Knicks should take a look at Drummond – not just as a rental, but as a piece to build with advanced Julius Randle.
Some members of the Knicks organization are unsure whether Randle and Drummond would fit together correctly. Some in the league think Robinson is a better long-term piece to build, despite his lack of offensive progression.
Will Robinson continue to evolve his game into more than just a pitch / rebound / alley-oop master? The Knicks have a team option for Robinson for the next season for $ 1.8 million, so they can find out for a low cost.
The Knicks still have $ 15 million in capitalization space to make Drummond’s trading easier mathematically. They have stocked up enough draft capital so that some can be spared. There are also two young men out of rotation for whom the Cavaliers may have a burning desire – Kevin Knox or Frank Ntilikina.
If Drummond comes out cheap, what do the Knicks have to lose if they find out that he and Randle don’t mix?
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau took every ounce of talent from this team. They were on the verge of the 0.500 mark in Orlando on Wednesday, before the putrid 33 point second.
In fact, the Knicks topped 14-16, healthier than most clubs this season.
Robinson was the first major victim and his absence finally hurt them in Orlando. No easy trash cans for offensive rebounds, alley-oop slams, blocked shots that change momentum or major defensive rebounds. The new owner Nerlens Noel is the Robinson of a poor man and does everything less efficiently.
Remember that Robinson is not a sure thing as a starter on a legitimate playoff team. Lottery newcomer and striker Obi Toppin is not a sure thing as a future starter, torn from, as one scout said, “a historically bad draft”.
Robinson has been hurt frequently because of the reckless – and wonderful – way he plays and fights. He flies around the court, blocking shots on the 3-point line. He broke his hand in an attempt to block by colliding with Randle’s elbow on the descent on Friday in Washington.
Robinson is an old school center, as is the Drummond wrecking ball, although Drummond’s game is growing at the age of 27. Robinson’s offensive repertoire has not grown.
Drummond has been a double-double machine for some years, but now he shoots better (59.7%). Scouts say he is one of the few centers that can grab a rebound and push the ball up. He has skill with the ball and has become a good passer.
Drummond’s strong numbers have always seemed larger than the overall picture, but he averages 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He was also very durable throughout his nine-year career.
According to sources, the Knicks are “sitting for the moment” in relation to the central situation. They want to see the central game Noel-Taj Gibson in a fight for a playoff spot.
Before beating 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 greater praise in this league than being difficult to play against. “
At some point, Leon Rose needs to update his talent level. Orlando defeated the Knicks without their best player, Aaron Gordon, rotation guy James Ennis and starting point guard Markelle Fultz.
Even Jeff Van Gundy said recently that the Knicks “don’t have enough offensive talent”. Meanwhile, the 2021 free agent class that the Knicks were eyeing after a quiet hiring period in November ended.
Thibodeau wants to win this season – and in the future. The boy from Mount Vernon can help the Knicks in both.