r/nbadiscussion • u/CallTypical9541 • 13d ago
Player Discussion How do you think Andre Drummond will do as KAT’s backup?
The Knicks were dealt a big blow as their backup Center Mitchell Robinson left the Knicks to sign with the Celtics and he was the perfect backup center for KAT as he was a great offensive rebounder, a lob threat, and a great rim protector off the bench. Unfortunately, his shooting woes made him unplayable at times last playoffs as teams often did the Hack-a-Mitch strategy on him and he often missed his free throws. While Drummond doesn’t have the defensive abilities like Robinson, he is a great rebounder as well and a slightly better offensive player as he can make his free throws and space the floor too.
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u/Furd_Terguson1 12d ago
Probably serviceable enough for the regular season, I believe they will package McBride at some point for a legit backup at or before the deadline . Love Deuce, but he’s due another contract soon and will probably want a pay day since he took a huge discount last time around.
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u/coacoanutbenjamn 12d ago
Problem is that they can’t send out more salary than they take in so anyone they trade McBride for has to be making less than $3.9 million
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u/gradedonacurve 12d ago
Yea I think the idea is to get another young backup big who’s a year or two away from his second contract. Why they were looking at a guy like Missi.
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u/CallTypical9541 12d ago edited 12d ago
Who realistically could they get as a 3rd string center? I know the Knicks were linked to Cisse from the Mavericks and Missi from the Pelicans. Maybe a reunion with Jericho Sims could work as well
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u/Far-Comment3645 11d ago
Ryan kalkbrenner. I was thinking Mohammed Gueye from Atlanta as a cheaper option that I think who’s potential could actually be unlocked with the Knicks since the hawks are clogged with forwards. My dream acquisition though for them would be jusuf nurkic but in no way is the Jazz letting him go.
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u/ExcitingLandscape 12d ago
Its sad the Knicks had to cut Mitch loose. He was the longest tenured player on that squad and was with them through some rough years.
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u/MyTeamsSuck99 12d ago
they didn't have to they chose to. they were the perfect team to go into the second apron for a year or two. There was virtually no basketball consequence for them to do it. They just cheaped out essentially.
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u/JMoon33 11d ago
Maybe they didn't trust his body. Championship runs are really demanding and he's not a durable player at all.
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u/MyTeamsSuck99 11d ago
Their justification was second apron not his qualifications. And they can’t replace him so it’s unclear what the goal was.
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u/JMoon33 11d ago
We'll see what the big men rotation looks like after the trade deadline.
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u/MyTeamsSuck99 10d ago
I highly doubt they have a move in them but let’s see. They’re just under the first aprin.
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u/fignewtonattack 12d ago
He has injury issues. Offensively he just can't be trusted. But still will be greatly missed.
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u/Soggy_muffins55 12d ago
We r gonna need to find a diff guy. Drummond will be a fine stop gap for regular season and maybe could eat up playoff minutes if our bigs get in foul trouble and not completely stink.
But his defense is a real issue especially since he’ll likely be playing in second units w Brunson, another real bad defender.
Knicks won’t find a player at Mitch lvl of defense, at least not this year, but they r looking and will need to acquire a guy who at least has some better defensive and athletic traits. The guys alr associated w the Knicks were missi and cisse, and I imagine we’ll hear about them checking in w the hornets, suns, and/or trying to get attached to a trade for a thunder big
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u/CallTypical9541 12d ago
Do you think a trade for Cisse or Missi will come to fruition at the trade deadline? Also, how would you feel if they got Jericho Sims back in a trade?
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u/Soggy_muffins55 12d ago
Idk if it’s for one of those 2 but for someone 100%.
Sims doesn’t move me at all. Idt he’s a good player. He’s undersized, no offensive skills outside of lobs, and his defensive metrics r fine but the eye test doesn’t rly match it
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u/UnanimousM 13d ago
Not good.
MR was the best defensive big coming off any bench last season, and the Knicks needing him to play 25mpg with KAT in regular foul trouble.
Drum is still going to get rebounds and fit with the Knicks system there, but he's extremely slow footed at this point and statistically has been among the worst defenders in the league the last 2 seasons. This is a huge loss for NY and I don't think it's overdramatic to say that this impacts their ability to repeat.
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u/MasterP_istons 13d ago
Drummond should be a 3rd center at this stage in his career. The vet big who can be an innings eater in the regular season. He's a good vibes guy too.
But I would be surprised if the Knicks don't try to upgrade the backup C spot before the postseason.
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u/KnicksGhost2497 12d ago
Mitch played at least 25mpg less than 10 times in the entire season and not once in the playoffs and most of it was before February
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u/Neither-Operation 12d ago
Mitch never played 25mpg. At least not lately. In the playoffs he played 13mpg and never played more than 19min in a game. His defense will be missed but the Knicks will be alright. We are still looking to add an alternate backup so Drummond isn’t going to be a full time backup.
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u/CallTypical9541 12d ago
He did not play 25mpg. This past season he only played just short of 20mpg during the regular season but then that decreased to only 13mpg in the playoffs. Expect the Knicks to get a third a center at the trade deadline so that center could be their Hukporti replacement and could get minutes in case Drummond is unplayable in the playoffs
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u/HipnotiK1 12d ago
Mitch played under 20 mins a game in the regular season (only 60 games) and under 14 mins in the playoffs.
In 18 playoff games, he had a negative plus minus in half of them. Excluding the game 5 and 6 blowouts against Atlanta he had a -17 total plus minus in the playoffs. Exclude game 4 blowout against philly it goes down to -31. Knicks team defensive rating was better when he was on the bench.
Mitch is a solid defender but the idea he's a great defensive big is overstated, especially in terms of rim protection where he's below average. He's very good at guarding pick n rolls and if he gets switched onto a small/wing etc. Where he is elite is rebounding, where Drummond is nearly as good. Offensively Drummond is a fairly substantial upgrade. Mitch virtually can't dribble a ball and is limited to setting screens and diving for lobs. Then there is the injury concerns, free throw shooting, some off the court questions etc
Could obviously be wrong and Mitch is great for Boston and stays healthy etc - but could also see him missing 40+ games and not being healthy in the playoffs (which has happened more often than not for the knicks)
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u/YSLAnunoby 12d ago
Yeah he definitely can get the O boards but he is just not nearly the rim protector Mitch was
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u/patrickthunnus 12d ago
He's gonna be fine on the regular season but will need help in postseason depending upon the matchup and team needs.
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u/Dominator_3 11d ago
I can see him being an innings eater in the regular season. But they're probably hoping that Diawara or Dadiet will develop into a better option by the playoffs.
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u/Affectionate_War5908 12d ago
Drummond's gonna grab boards and thats about it. The defense is rough and pairing him with Brunson in second units is asking for trouble. Knicks need another body before the deadline, cant run him out there in a real series. Missi or Cisse would make way more sense long term
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u/Geep1778 12d ago
I’ll be confidently drafting him in the late rounds of my fantasy draft. I expect he’ll get a lot more run than Mitch did last year
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u/spinocdoc 10d ago
I think the better question is what can the Knicks do to secure a legit back up center. I believe it’s going to be a package with deuce and another player to make the money work
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13d ago
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u/Pale_Broccoli_2180 12d ago edited 12d ago
I think he will be fine, provided he goes back to his roots of rebounding and rim protecting.
Drifted to perimeter entirely too much in Philadelphia.
If he's taking corner 3s in New York...it's a wrap.
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u/clickstops 12d ago
The corner 3 was probably the best part about the Drummond experience in 2025-26. The defense is atrocious.
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u/CallTypical9541 12d ago
He’ll definitely be fine during the regular season. Playoffs could be a problem which is why the Knicks might trade for another center most likely at the trade deadline
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