The New York Knicks should be in the trade market for a center after a brutal Wednesday on the medical front.
Shams Charania reported that starting center Mitchell Robinson, already projected to miss weeks with an ankle injury, may be out for the season as the Knicks were said to have applied for a Disabled Player Exception. That came hours after an Adrian Wojnarowski report said that Robinson's starting five replacement, Jericho Sims, will miss the next week or so with an ankle ailment of his own.
While Isaiah Hartenstein and newly re-signed Taj Gibson are currently manning the center position, the team needs to add some type of depth before the trade deadline to be taken seriously as a contender in the Eastern Conference.
That's where Andre Drummond could come in.
The 30-year-old Drummond, currently with the Chicago Bulls, isn't the All-Star he used to be with the Detroit Pistons, but he's certainly serviceable as a backup. He is averaging 6.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while playing in just about 13.3 minutes per game.
If he played about 20, he may be averaging a double-double, much like he did during the 2020-21 season between Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers If the Knicks were to bring him in, that's probably the most they'd ask him to do with Hartenstein stepping into the starting five.
Given the fact that Drummond is on an expiring deal, it wouldn't cost much to acquire him. Perhaps sending a second-round pick and point guard (and former Bull) Ryan Arcidiacono could be enough to get the deal done.
The Knicks have three second-round picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, so it would make sense for them to part ways with one. Simply put, the Knicks need a rim protector and Drummond may be one of the sneaky buys on the trade market that won't cost New York an arm and a leg.
Drummond and the Bulls come to Madison Square Garden on Jan. 3. In the meantime, the Knicks (16-11) face the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday afternoon at home (12:30 p.m. ET, MSG).
More must-reads: