Sources: Drummond to Knicks after Robinson exit

July 4, 2026 No Comments

Sources: Andre Drummond reaches 1-year, $3.9M deal with KnicksVincent GoodwillJul 3, 2026, 07:46 PM ETMultiple Authors

The Knicks found a replacement for backup center Mitchell Robinson in veteran Andre Drummond, who agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million contract with New York on Friday, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The move comes on the heels of Robinson reaching a three-year deal with the Boston Celtics worth $47.4 million, an expected departure after Knicks chairman James Dolan reported he wouldn’t allow his team to go into the punitive luxury tax second apron.

Drummond profiles similarly to Robinson in some ways, particularly on the boards. As a member of the Detroit Pistons, he led the NBA in offensive rebounds per game for seven straight seasons, and four times he led the league in rebounding (in 2015-16 and from 2017 to 2020).

Editor’s Picks

Sources: C’s nab Robinson from Knicks for $47M+

Grades for every free agent signing: Drummond, Eason and the recent deals

Zach Kram

Winners, losers and dominoes from NBA free agency’s wild week

Ben Golliver

In recent years, Drummond has had stops in Los Angeles with the Lakers, Brooklyn, Chicago and two stints in Philadelphia, where he played the past two seasons backing up Joel Embiid. He averaged 6.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in 19.2 minutes in 103 games (48 starts) with the 76ers.

“Philly will always have a special place in my heart,” Drummond wrote as part of a social media post Friday. “Nothing but love and gratitude as I move into the next chapter.”

Drummond will now back up Karl-Anthony Towns, as Robinson did.

Robinson’s offensive rebounding and defense were integral to the Knicks winning the NBA championship, and Drummond will be tasked to offer the same.

“To the Knicks fans, I know what this city expects, and I’m ready to embrace it. I’m coming in with gratitude, hunger, and a mindset to work,” Drummond wrote in concluding his post. “Let’s make this chapter special.”

A two-time All-Star, Drummond has averaged 12.1 points and 11.9 rebounds over 14 seasons. His best season came in 2017-18, when he averaged 15 points, 16 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.5 steals.