Knicks' Frontcourt Depth: Why New York Might Improve Despite Losing Robinson

The New York Knicks retained most of their championship roster this offseason, but the exit of backup center Mitchell Robinson leaves a real gap. Robinson wasn’t just a strong rotation big man, he was the longest-tenured player on the roster. Watching him sign with the rival Boston Celtics after a title run stings for the fanbase. Still, there’s a case that New York’s frontcourt could actually improve this season. Three factors support that view.

The Andre Drummond Signing Makes Sense

Robinson excels as a rebounder, but Andre Drummond gives the Knicks another elite presence on the glass. Offensively, he brings a different skill set. He won’t finish above the rim the way Robinson does, but Drummond processes the game faster as a passer, shoots over 60% from the free-throw line in back-to-back seasons, and has developed a spot-up three. He connected on 32 of 90 attempts from deep last season, a notable jump for a player once considered one of the league’s most hackable options, a label that increasingly applies to Robinson as well.

Nobody is comparing Drummond to Karl-Anthony Towns, but his added range gives head coach Mike Brown flexibility with backup units. Drummond can set screens and roll, spot up in the corner, or operate handoffs. Robinson’s game was built around finishing at the rim.

Robinson remains the far better defender. He protected the rim and could extend to the perimeter, as shown late in Game 2 of the NBA Finals when he contested a potential game-winning shot from Victor Wembanyama. He wasn’t a 30-minute player though. His playoff minutes dropped to 13.9 per game from 19.6 during the regular season, limited by injury history and poor free-throw shooting. Drummond won’t need heavy minutes to be effective either.

Brown Should Keep Experimenting

Running the offense through Towns helped deliver a championship, but Brown showed a willingness to deploy unconventional lineups all year. In Game 4 of the Finals, he paired Jalen Brunson with Jose Alvarado during the biggest comeback in Finals history. Earlier in the season, he closed out a win over the Philadelphia 76ers with OG Anunoby playing center against Joel Embiid after Towns fouled out.

Brown replaced the rigid Tom Thibodeau precisely because he’s open to unconventional approaches. There’s little reason not to extend those looks into the regular season.

Anunoby as a small-ball five deserves more minutes. It opens up switch-heavy defense and puts five shooters on the floor simultaneously.

Mohamed Diawara playing power forward next to a traditional big is another avenue worth exploring. Knicks fans stayed quiet about Diawara throughout the year, avoiding hype that might inflate expectations. But his rookie season included a 37% clip from three and a 7-foot-4 wingspan that adds defensive versatility. There’s something to build on there.

Depending on how training camp shakes out, James Wiseman or Drew Eubanks could also see minutes in stretches where the Knicks need rim protection and vertical spacing.

Depth Is a Smarter Financial Play

Matching Boston’s three-year, $47.4 million offer for Robinson while retaining the rest of the rotation would have pushed New York above the second luxury tax apron.

Signing Drummond for the veteran minimum let the front office stay under that threshold while keeping Alvarado, Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, and Diawara on the roster. That guard and wing depth matters for the frontcourt too, since Brown now has more shooters and ball-handlers to work with when running smaller lineups.

Leon Rose and the front office are betting those pieces collectively offset what Robinson provided on his own. Drummond doesn’t need to replicate Robinson’s exact production to keep this frontcourt competitive. Robinson’s departure will be felt, but it doesn’t automatically make the Knicks a worse team heading into the new season.

Read also: Brunson Extends Star Turn With Emmys Cameo and SNL Hosting Slot

Stay with TipsGG for continued coverage of the Knicks’ roster moves and rotation battles as training camp unfolds.