Don’t expect central Andre Drummond to prepare for the Knicks anytime soon.
Despite a report in the Los Angeles Times that Lakers, Celtics and Knicks are the top three candidates to hire Drummond in the takeover market, the Knicks are against beating the other two clubs in an attempt to save their cap space.
Anything can happen to Drummond this summer at the free agency, but the Knicks’ decision makers, after coming and going for weeks, are leaning against a big move with the former Cavalier, according to NBA sources.
The Celtics met Drummond on Friday and could be favorites for the former Connecticut star and a native of Mount Vernon.
Knicks Brass has seen many films about Drummond in the past few weeks, analyzing whether he would fit well with Julius Randle and whether Mitchell Robinson was worth putting on the bench.
The Knicks believe Drummond will want to start, but the Knicks have visions of ending the season with young, blocking Robinson as the starter. Center Nerlens Noel was great off the bench and was strong as a starter when Robinson lost 15 games after surgery on a fractured right hand.
The Knicks are still in the takeover market. Jeff Teague, owner of Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau in Minnesota, as well as little striker Otto Porter and center pivot Gordon Dieng, are expected to be targeted by the Knicks, an NBA source said.
Drummond is a great rebound, but he is not considered an elite protector or defender. Thibodeau is very good at defensive centers – that’s why he is in love with Noel and Robinson.
The Knicks have $ 15 million in capitalization space and can easily beat Boston, Lakers and Clippers. But they could also use the $ 15 million of space on draft night to easily make a switch, while almost all other teams would be over the limit.
Pivot Taj Gibson’s performance in the win over the Wizards on Thursday may have sealed the deal on the Knicks losing some interest in Drummond. Gibson picked up seven offensive rebounds, had two blocks and scored 10 points in the comeback win, and Thibodeau was raving about him after the game.