Andre Drummond has a player option for the 2020-21 season that would pay him over $ 28 million. If he decides to give up, he would immediately become one of the best free agent centers.
The 26-year-old will have to weigh the benefits of entering the market during a pandemic when teams are short on cash versus joining his senior year and looking forward to the next offseason to cash in on a big deal. If Drummond is looking for long-term security, he may be willing to take a lower annual salary to close a deal for several seasons. He won’t retire unless he feels confident he can sign a multi-year deal starting at around $ 20 million.
For the Knicks, Drummond doesn’t make much sense as a free agent target. The team is looking to build around young stud Mitchell Robinson, who could use a striker in the lineup next to him complementing his game with spacing. Drummond is not that.