The Chicago Bulls could move veteran center Andre Drummond ahead of the NBA’s Feb. 9 trade deadline, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
“Do not be surprised, league sources say, if the Bulls move former All-Star center Andre Drummond before the Feb. 9 trade,” Stein wrote. “Drummond has been allotted fewer than 15 minutes in each of Chicago’s past 12 games.”
The Bulls signed Drummond this past offseason to back up Nikola Vucevic, but he’s played a minimal role off the bench, playing just 13.0 minutes per game across 36 matchups this season.
The former first-round pick is averaging 6.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 0.3 blocks per game this season while shooting 61.0 percent from the field.
With Chicago currently sitting in the No. 11 spot in the Eastern Conference, the team could look to move on from Drummond to bring in an asset that will help it in the future.
The 2022-23 season has been a struggle for the Bulls, as they have played below expectations after finishing with the No. 6 seed in the conference last season.
The team brought in veterans like Drummond and Goran Dragic in the offseason, but Drummond’s role has become reduced significantly since the start of December.
Drummond has not played in four of the Bulls’ last six games, and he’s averaging just 11.4 minutes per game in 21 contests since Dec. 2. If he’s going to spend more time on the bench than in the rotation, Chicago would be wise to try to get something in return for him.
A two-time All-Star, Drummond has bounced around the league in recent seasons. The big man has played for the Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons since the start of the 2019-20 season.
He’s a terrific rebounder, but he doesn’t space the floor as much as some of the other centers in the NBA. The Bulls have a true stretch big man in Vucevic on the roster, and he’s been the team’s primary option at the center position.
Chicago could be in a position to sell off multiple pieces at the deadline if it feels it can’t make a push for the playoffs.
Vucevic is a free agent at the end of the 2022-23 season and so is guard Coby White. With the Bulls currently outside of the play-in tournament picture in the East, they’ll need to make a run soon to justify keeping this core intact.
