The Chicago Bulls are adding veteran center Andre Drummond to bolster their frontcourt, per The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN added that Chicago will ink Drummond to a two-year, $6.6MM contract, with a player option for 2023-24. A two-year deal at the veteran’s minimum would be worth $5.95MM.
The 28-year-old big man did well in the second half for the Brooklyn Nets after being traded right before the trade deadline. He was sent to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of the deal that sent James Harden there.
In 24 regular-season games with the Nets, Drummond averaged 11.8 points and 10.3 rebounds.
Selected by the Pistons with the ninth pick out of Connecticut in 2012, Drummond blossomed into a two-time All-Star for Detroit. He was eventually traded to the Cavaliers, before signing a one-year veteran’s minimum deal with the Lakers ahead of the 2020-21 season.
Playing as a reserve behind Sixers All-Star Joel Embiid to start the 2021-22 season on another minimum deal, Drummond saw limited touches on offense, but was still able to feast on the glass in limited minutes. Across 18.4 MPG, he averaged 6.1 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.1 SPG and 0.9 BPG in 49 contests with Philadelphia.
With Brooklyn, Drummond enjoyed an expanded offensive role. He started in all 24 of his games with the Nets, averaging 11.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.0 BPG and 0.9 SPG during 22.3 MPG.
The Drummond deal is the first reported free agent addition for Chicago during the 2022 offseason. The team is still hoping to re-sign two-time All-Star shooting guard Zach LaVine, an unrestricted free agent. Unsigned veteran free agent forward Danilo Gallinari has also been mentioned as a possibility for Chicago.
Additionally, the Bulls have a $5MM trade exception left over from a Daniel Theis sign-and-trade during the 2021 offseason it must use (or lose) by July 7.
Subscribe to BN+ and get access to exclusive content.
