Injury may force team to rethink Drummond
The Knicks were prepared to move on from former All-Star center Andre Drummond. They were content with a three-headed center monster of Mitchell Robinson, Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson.
Now, however, the Knicks really need another center.
The Knicks will have to reimagine their vision after Robinson fractured his foot Saturday night during their 102-96 victory in Milwaukee. Robinson possibly will be lost for the season. It may be too late. The Lakers, according to an ESPN report that dropped before the Rob- inson injury, were closing in on signing Drummond, who clears waivers Sunday.
The Knicks can easily outbid the Lakers if so inclined now. They have $15 million in cap space while the Lakers can only offer Drummond a minimum deal starting at $2 million.
The Post reported the Knicks had been looking more at a depth piece such as center Gorgui Dieng, who was bought out by the Grizzlies. Dieng played for Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau with the Timberwolves.
Another big-man target could be power forward/center Al Horford, also a Thibodeau favorite, if he’s bought out by the Thunder. Horford has been shut down so Oklahoma City can play their younger players. But a buyout is highly unlikely because he has two years left on his pact. Knicks decision-makers were going back and forth for weeks on Drummond. The Celtics met with Drummond on Friday. The Knicks also have talked to the former Connecticut star and Mount Vernon native.
Knicks brass has watched plenty of film on Drummond in recent weeks to analyze whether he would make a good fit with Julius Randle and would be worth putting Robinson on the bench. Now Robinson is shelved, so it’s a moot point.
It’s also possible the Knicks could focus on Dieng, who is a better outside shooter than Drummond.
Center Nerlens Noel has been huge off the bench and was strong in a starting role when Robinson missed 15 games after surgery on a right-hand fracture.
The Knicks still are in the buyout market in other avenues. Jeff Teague, who was Thibodeau’s point guard in Minnesota, and small forward Otto Porter Jr. could be on the radar.
The Knicks could decide to save their cap space for draft night to easily make a trade while almost every other team would be over the cap.