Bulls center Andre Drummond has exercised his player option for 2023/24, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). The move will guarantee Drummond a $3.36MM salary for next season.
Drummond, who will turn 30 in August, put up big numbers on a per-minute basis as a reserve center for the Bulls in 2022/23, averaging 6.0 points and 6.6 rebounds in just 12.7 minutes per game (67 games).
However, for the first time in his 11-year NBA career, Drummond didn’t make a single start, playing a limited role behind primary center Nikola Vucevic. His scoring and rebounding averages were career lows, as were his 12.7 minutes per night.
While Drummond might be the NBA’s best rebounder and can certainly score around the basket, the rest of his offensive game is limited, and he’s not a mobile defensive player or an elite rim protector. Once a maximum-salary player, the two-time All-Star presumably determined that he wasn’t assured of topping a $3.36MM guarantee on the open market and chose the safety of the opt-in.
It’s unclear whether Drummond remains in Chicago’s plans for 2023/24 or whether the team will look to trade his expiring contract. A report on Thursday morning indicated that the Mavericks were eyeing the veteran center, but Marc Stein later clarified (via Twitter) that Dallas’ interest was contingent on a separate trade that hadn’t happened yet.
Drummond is one of two Bulls veterans who had player option decisions to make this month. While the big man is picking up his $3.36MM option, Derrick Jones elected to turn down an identical $3.36MM option of his own.
Great backup and good price. Hope he plays more in 2024.
Andre Drummond is good for a team like the Chicago Bulls. He don’t play a winning brand of basketball. If you trying to compete for championships he’s not it. He’s a great rebounder but ain’t nothing else about his game that I like.
Boo you
thought he was going to the Mavs according to a previous post
That rumor got clarified today saying that Drummond sign was pending another move happening first for Mavs, which I believe implies the moving of JaVale McGee. I also believe the Mavs now are going to pursue the just released Mo Bamba, who is a UT guy from the area and fits what they are looking for in a center rebounder and block presence.
Should play a ton more then he does
Makes no sense to me why this guy doesn’t get more run. He’s not a great rim protector but he’s decent. He’s a pretty good passer for a big, decent rim runner and obviously the best rebounder in the NBA. I hate so much how the way the game is played now has devalued still valuable players.
THJ and Lively for Vuce and Drummond
The Bulls are apparently interested in Mo Bamba and Georges Niang.
He could of got more somewhere else and also started too. Horrible agent. Same agent as Whiteside
Could he “of”?