The reason why the Knicks signed Andre Drummond to a one-year deal has been revealed

The New York Knicks knew that they would be losing Mitchell Robinson after the 2026 NBA Finals. After he signed with the Boston Celtics, the Knicks had to pivot to finding new backup bigs to Karl-Anthony Towns.

They have found one in Andre Drummond, who has been the backup to Joel Embiid for the past few seasons. Now, he will be a crucial cog for a team that will be looking to repeat as champions in the 2026-27 season.

The Knicks' biggest reason for signing Andre Drummond

For a long time, Drummond has been one of the most productive big men in the league. Even if he has been a backup for the past few years, he has stepped up every time his name has been called upon to contribute.

Considering he has been playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, he has had to step in for Embiid many times. While Towns is not as unreliable as Embiid, he does need a good backup, as shown in the 2025-26 championship run.

MORE: The free agency tracker for the New York Knicks

With Drummond, they are getting one of the most tenacious rebounders in NBA history. He has all the tools to replicate what Robinson did in New York, and it is a good idea to have a motivated Drummond on the roster.

"Knicks targeted Andre Drummond due to his veteran experience in the league, strong rebounding ability, and his playoff experience, per source familiar with the matter. Club will lean on former Mount Vernon star to back up Karl-Anthony Towns," SNY's Ian Begley reported about the Drummond signing.

The Knicks are still $6.2 million under the second apron, so they still have some room to operate. They have plans on bringing back Jordan Clarkson, while they also want to bring in one more player to serve as frontcourt depth.

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