As the NBA trade deadline inches closer, the New York Knicks are expected to be active shoppers-particularly in the frontcourt. And one name quietly gaining traction as a potential target? Andre Drummond.
According to recent reports, the Knicks have had their eyes on the veteran big man before, and there’s reason to believe they might circle back this time around. Drummond, now in his 14th NBA season, is currently anchoring the second unit in Philadelphia. But with the Knicks eyeing depth behind their core rotation of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson, and Ariel Hukporti, Drummond could be a logical fit.
Let’s break this down.
Drummond’s résumé speaks for itself: a four-time league leader in rebounds, a two-time All-Star, and a well-traveled veteran who’s suited up for the Pistons, Cavaliers, Lakers, Nets, and now the Sixers. While he’s no longer the nightly double-double machine he once was in Detroit, he’s still bringing value in a very specific-and very needed-way: rebounding and interior presence.
This season, Drummond is averaging 7.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in limited minutes. That kind of production off the bench is nothing to overlook, especially for a Knicks team that has been dealing with frontcourt injuries. Mitchell Robinson, in particular, has had trouble staying healthy, and while Towns has been a force offensively, the Knicks could use a more traditional big to help shoulder the physical load in the paint.
Drummond isn’t going to stretch the floor or anchor a modern five-out offense. That’s not what you bring him in to do.
What he does bring is physicality, rebounding, and veteran savvy-traits that matter in the grind of the regular season and even more so in the playoffs. He’s the kind of player who can give you 12-15 minutes of high-effort basketball, crash the boards, defend the rim, and help stabilize the second unit when the starters sit.
The Knicks have reportedly viewed Drummond favorably in the past, even considering him in previous offseasons. That familiarity matters. This isn’t a speculative flyer-they know what he brings, and they know how he could fit into Tom Thibodeau’s system, which values toughness, rebounding, and defensive effort.
If New York does decide to make a move, Drummond wouldn’t be a headline-grabbing acquisition, but he’d be a smart, situationally valuable one. In a playoff race that could come down to depth and durability, adding a proven rebounder with postseason experience might just be the kind of under-the-radar move that pays off when it matters most.