Last winter, Knicks Brass argued internally about downtown Detroit trade Andre Drummond, who had an exclusion clause to become a free agent.
The Knicks weren’t too worried about keeping Drummond if he chose not to participate. The Mount Vernon natives, the Knicks believed, would probably want to re-sign with their hometown team.
In fact, then-Knicks president Steve Mills is close to the Drummond family.
Eventually, the Knicks decided against it, committed to rebuilding and centering Mitchell Robinson. On February 6, Drummond was handed over to the Cavaliers. He exercised his $ 28.7 million option for 2020-21 due to the reduced pandemic-free agency and stayed in Cleveland.
A year later, the Cavaliers try to change the former UConn star as a rental as well. This week they have played the double All-Star until they commit to a deal.
The Raptors, sources confirm, are in the tender. But it’s not an easy financial trade with Drummond’s big salaries.
When Robinson leaves the special surgery hospital after the operation with the firing hand, until mid-late March, the Knicks should take a look at Drummond, not just as a rental, but as a piece to build. with striker Julius Randle. .
Some members of the Knicks organization are not sure that Randle and Drummond will make the right adjustment. Some in the league consider Robinson to be a better piece in the long run to build, despite his lack of offensive progression.
Will Robinson continue to evolve his game into more than a master of block / bounce / alley-oop? The Knicks have a team option for Robinson for next season at $ 1.8 million, so they can figure out what’s cheaper.
The Knicks still have $ 15 million of maximum space to mathematically facilitate Drummond’s trade. They have stored enough draft capital for some to save. There are also two youngsters out of the rotation that the Cavaliers might want: Kevin Knox or Frank Ntilikina.
If Drummond comes out cheap, what should the Knicks lose if they find that he and Randle are not mixing?
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has extracted every ounce of talent from this team. They were on the verge of the .500 mark in Orlando Wednesday before their putrid 33-point second half.
In fact, the Knicks have outscored 14-16, healthier than most clubs this season.
Robinson was the first major casualty and his absence eventually hurt them in Orlando. There are no easy garbage dumps for offensive rebounds, alleys, hard-blocked shots, or key defensive rebounds. New starter Nerlens Noel is a poor man’s Robinson and makes everything a little less efficient.
Keep in mind that Robinson is not a safe thing to start as a legitimate playoff team. The new election of the lottery and the avant-garde Obi Toppin, is not a sure thing as a future holder, torn, as one explorer said, “from a bad historical history.”
Robinson has often been hurt by the reckless and wonderful way he plays and fights. Fly down the runway blocking shots at the 3-point line. He broke his hand in an attempt to block as he collided with Randle’s elbow as he descended on Friday in Washington.
Robinson is an old school center and so is Drummond, although Drummond’s game grows at 27 years old. Robinson’s offensive repertoire has not grown.
Drummond has been a double-double machine for a few years, but now throws better free throws (59.7%). Scouts say it’s one of the few centers that can grab a bounce and push the ball up. He has skills for the ball and has become a good passer.
Drummond’s strong numbers have always looked bigger than the overall picture, but he averages 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He has also been very enduring throughout his nine-year career.
According to sources, the Knicks are “sitting for now” regarding the center’s situation. They want to see the central tandem Noel-Taj Gibson play as they fight to get the playoff berth.
Before beating the Knicks, Orlando coach Steve Clifford paid tribute to them and said: “They would be one of the teams that people don’t want to play against. I don’t think there is more praise in this league than being difficult to play. “
At some point, Leon Rose needs to improve his talent level. Orlando defeated the Knicks without their best player, Aaron Gordon, key rotation guy James Ennis and starting point Markelle Fultz.
Even Jeff Van Gundy recently said the Knicks “don’t have enough offensive talent.” Meanwhile, the 2021 free agent class the Knicks watched after a quiet signing period in November has dried up.
Thibodeau wants to win this season and in the future. The Mount Vernon kid can help the Knicks do both.