Andre Drummond Thanked Philly Then Signed With the Knicks. His Message Says It All.

Andre Drummond is out of Philadelphia and into New York. But before he put on a Knicks jersey, he took a second to say goodbye the right way.

The veteran center posted a thank-you note to Philly on Instagram after news broke that he’s signing with the Knicks on a one-year, $3.9 million deal. Drummond spent the last two seasons back with the 76ers, his second stint with the franchise, and he made it clear the city meant something to him.

“From day one, you welcomed me and my family with love,” Drummond wrote. “Wearing this jersey was an honor, and I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to represent this city, this organization, and the fans.”

He also tipped his cap to the fans directly. “Philly will always have a special place in my heart,” he added. “Nothing but love and gratitude as I move into the next chapter.”

Then he turned his attention toward Madison Square Garden. Drummond knows the pressure that comes with playing in New York, and he seems ready for it. “To the Knicks fans, I know what this city expects, and I’m ready to embrace it,” he wrote. “I’m coming in with gratitude, hunger, and a mindset to work.”

What the Knicks Are Getting

Drummond joins the defending champions as a backup to Karl-Anthony Towns. He’s basically stepping into the role Mitchell Robinson left when Robinson signed with Boston. Not a bad way to spend a season if you’re a big man looking for minutes on a contender.

Last season with the Sixers, Drummond averaged 6.4 points and 8.4 rebounds in 63 games. He’s still a monster on the glass. But the interesting thing? He started knocking down corner threes at a decent rate after basically never taking them earlier in his career. That’s a nice little wrinkle for a backup center.

Philly is busy reshaping its roster around a new core while Drummond heads to New York. The Knicks are getting a reliable rebounder who’s played a lot of playoff basketball. And he seems genuinely grateful for the opportunity, which isn’t always the case with veteran minimum signings.

The whole thing has a pretty clean feel. Drummond thanked a city that embraced him twice, then walked into a new situation with his eyes open. That’s about as good as a mid-level free agent departure gets.