NEWSLETTER
Andre Drummond didn’t hesitate to let people know his summer plans.
The Chicago Bulls big man told former Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall on the Paper Route podcast by I AM ATHLETE that he plans to opt into his player option for the 2023-24 season. Drummond must decide by June 29th whether he wants to stay with the Bulls for $3.4 million next season or hit unrestricted free agency.
“For sure,” Drummond said when asked if his plan is to stay in Chicago. “As of now, that’s what my plan is. Unless something comes up, but I think as of right now, where I’m at today and how I feel, I really love being in Chicago.”
All things considered, that’s significant news for a Bulls team that is headed toward a pivotal offseason. The organization is at a crossroads after its veteran “Big 3” finished just 40-42 and saw its season end in the Play-In Tournament. The front office must decide whether continuity remains the goal or if a drastic roster shake-up is in store.
Regardless of their choice, it appears as though their frontcourt will primarily remain the same. Drummond’s vocal assurance that he plans to play out his full contract comes in the wake of ongoing negotiations between Nikola Vucevic and the Bulls on an extension.
“In the grand scheme of things, I’m at a point where I enjoy where I’m at. I love playing in Chicago,” Drummond said. “The team is great. I think we just needed more time to build chemistry together. We had a lot of injuries … There wasn’t really any consistency with our unit because guys were in and out of the lineup. So I think with a fresh year, we’ll be fine because we showed spurts of being a really good team. Just looking forward to a new year and a fresh start.”
While Drummond’s decision to stay would give the organization one less roster spot to tweak, it should still be considered pretty good news for the Bulls. Not only would his departure leave a sizable hole at the backup center position (… literally), but it would take a well-respected veteran out of the locker room. For only a little over the veteran minimum, having an experienced big man like Drummond undoubtedly feels like a positive (plus, he could be a decent trade option midway through the season).
Indeed, there is arguably room for him to play an even bigger role this upcoming year than in his first season with the team. Drummond averaged just 12.7 minutes per game and appeared in 67 games as head coach Billy Donovan took him in and out of the rotation at times.
However, Drummond still managed 6.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game on a rock solid 60.6 percent shooting from the field. Remaining one of the league’s elite rebounders, there should be plenty of room for him to serve as one of the better backup bigs in the NBA.
Of course, we still have to wait for the official confirmation, and I suspect that won’t happen until closer to the deadline. We’ll also want to keep our eye out for Derrick Jones Jr., who also said earlier this offseason that he plans to opt into his deal and remain in Chicago.
