The New York Knicks have filled one of their biggest offseason needs, agreeing to a one-year, $3.9 million contract with veteran center Andre Drummond, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The signing comes after backup center Mitchell Robinson departed in free agency, giving the defending NBA champions an experienced replacement behind Karl-Anthony Towns.
Charania reported Friday that Drummond agreed to the veteran minimum deal after New York prioritized adding a proven rebounder to its frontcourt.
Robinson signed a three-year, $47.4 million contract with the Boston Celtics earlier in free agency, while reserve center Ariel Hukporti also left for the Philadelphia 76ers, leaving the Knicks thin at the position.
Drummond, 32, arrives with one of the NBA’s most accomplished rebounding resumes. Across 14 seasons with the Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls, he has averaged 12.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks while shooting 53.9% from the field in 967 career games. He is a two-time All-Star and has led the league in rebounds four times.
While no longer the offensive focal point he was during his prime in Detroit, Drummond remained a productive reserve for Philadelphia last season. He appeared in 63 games, making 25 starts, and averaged 6.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in just 19.5 minutes per game. He also expanded his range, knocking down 35.6% of his 1.4 three-point attempts per game after rarely attempting shots from beyond the arc earlier in his career.
Rebounding has consistently been Drummond’s greatest strength. Even in a reduced role, he averaged 3.2 offensive rebounds per game in 2025-26, providing second-chance opportunities that fit well alongside a Knicks lineup built around efficient half-court scorers such as Jalen Brunson and Towns.
The move also gives New York another experienced option to manage Towns’ workload during the regular season. Towns started all 75 of his appearances last season, averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds while earning another All-Star selection. Robinson had served as the primary backup, averaging 5.7 points and 8.8 rebounds in 19.6 minutes before leaving in free agency.
New York enters the 2026-27 season after winning the franchise’s first NBA championship since 1973. The Knicks finished 53-29 during the regular season before defeating the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs to capture the title.
The front office has largely focused on preserving that championship core while remaining below the NBA’s restrictive second apron. In addition to signing Drummond, the Knicks re-signed Landry Shamet and Jose Alvarado, retained Mohamed Diawara, and added second-round draft picks Jack Kayil and Tyler Nickel while accumulating future draft assets through a series of draft-night trades.
