NBA Fans In Shock As Star Center Signs Surprise Minimum Contract
By 813 Staff
The Bulls are staring down a play-in ceiling again, and the front office has been quietly rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. This time, it’s a familiar face for the old-guard fans, but one whose prime is a distant memory. League sources confirm that free agent center Andre Drummond has agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal to return to Chicago, per Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania).
The move, which broke late Wednesday, is a low-cost, low-risk depth signing. Drummond, 32, spent parts of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons with the Bulls before bouncing to the 76ers and then the Wizards. Those close to the situation say the Bulls needed a reliable backup behind starting center Nikola Vucevic after last year’s rotation proved thin when Vucevic missed time with a groin strain. Drummond still carries value as a rebounding specialist—he averaged 8.4 boards in just 17 minutes per game last season in Washington—but his defensive limitations and lack of floor-spacing are well-documented.
Why this matters for a roster that’s stuck in neutral: The Bulls are trying to thread a needle between competing for a top-six seed and not locking themselves into long-term money. Giving a veteran minimum deal to a big man who won’t demand touches is the kind of move that keeps the locker room steady but doesn’t move the needle in the Eastern Conference. With Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan still carrying the offensive load, the Bulls needed a third center to soak up regular-season minutes and protect the rim against second units. Drummond fits that description, but only barely.
What happens next is more telling. The Bulls still have an open roster spot and are expected to survey the trade market for a wing who can shoot. The front office has been quietly gauging interest in Lonzo Ball’s expiring contract, but those close to the situation say no deal is imminent. For now, Drummond’s signing simply plugs a hole. It’s a reunion that feels more like a safety net than a statement. The real question is whether this front office has a bigger move left in the chamber, or if this is the summer they’re content to run it back with a few tweaks around the edges. Expect Drummond to be in Chicago for training camp, but don’t be surprised if his name pops up again ahead of the February trade deadline as a movable expiring deal.
Source: https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/2073170816154345589
