Andre Drummond in a game against the Knicks before joining the team
The Knicks tried to take a low-cost swing at Moussa Cisse. Dallas matched the offer sheet, and now New York is back where it started at center.
That puts a little more weight on Andre Drummond. He was a sensible signing because he can rebound, absorb regular-season minutes and keep the Knicks from asking too much of their starters every night. He also cannot be the only answer if the goal is another title run.
Andre Drummond during a playoff game against the Knicks
Andre Drummond sits during a playoff game against the Knicks. Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
Knicks need Drummond to hold up his end
Drummond is still a productive rebounder, but the job is more specific in New York. The Knicks need him to protect the glass, survive switches well enough to stay on the floor, and keep the second unit from bleeding points when the stars sit.
The Cisse offer showed the front office was looking for another body with upside. Cisse averaged 4.5 points and 5.7 rebounds last season, so this was never supposed to be a flashy move. It was about having a young, cheap option behind the veterans.
The easy fix is gone
There are still veterans available, and the Knicks can keep scanning the market. But every remaining option comes with a tradeoff: price, age, fit, or a lack of playoff trust.
The issue keeps coming back. New York has the stars to defend its championship. It needs to avoid a situation where one frontcourt injury turns the entire rotation upside down.
Drummond can help. The Knicks just need more certainty than one veteran center and a hope that the next available name works out.
Mentioned in this article: Andre Drummond Knicks Knicks centers Moussa Cisse NBA Free Agency
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