The only Chicago Bulls player who may have over a 50 percent chance of getting traded this week is Andre Drummond. The big man has been linked to multiple suitors this season, including the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers.
The list is only expected to grow as the deadline inches closer, and Michael Scotto underscored that point with his latest over at HoopsHype (emphasis mine):
“One Bulls player who could be dealt, however, is center Andre Drummond who’s drawn trade interest from the Celtics, Mavericks, Lakers and Suns, league sources told HoopsHype. The Rockets also considered making a run at Drummond before acquiring Steven Adams,” Scotto wrote.
Make sure to read Scotto’s full trade intel piece here.
Nobody should expect some kind of jaw-dropping return for Drummond. He is on an expiring deal and owed just $3.4 million this season. The reason he’s such a prime trade candidate is that the chance of him remaining in Chicago past this season feels remarkably thin. He’s excelled in his backup role to Nikola Vucevic, showing that he likely deserves more playing time. I have to imagine several center-needy teams will have an interest in signing the elite rebounder to a multi-year deal this summer, especially those in a contending position.
Speaking of which, some of those contenders could use the big man ASAP. Scotto’s mention of the Celtics, Mavericks, and Suns marks the first time we’ve heard those teams connected to Drummond. All are positioned to be in the hunt for a conference finals appearance this year, and all could surely use the depth at the center position.
Drummond would provide Phoenix with a different blend of strength and athleticism behind starting big man Jusuf Nurkic. Meanwhile, he’d undoubtedly boost the Mavs’ dismal 29th-ranked REB% and add experience behind rookie Dereck Lively II. As for the Celtics, they would get a more traditional big man to pair with Kristaps Porzingis, who we all know can have trouble staying on the floor.
If I had to guess, most teams are prepared to offer Chicago a couple of second-round picks. If I had to guess again, the Bulls would also want a young asset in return, which may be asking for too much. Could Boston consider Jordan Walsh and a second-round pick? Would the Lakers give up Max Christie and a second-rounder for Drummond and Torrey Craig?
Again, we’re not talking about any sort of major deal here, but the fact there are so many suitors should work in the Bulls’ favor. They have an opportunity here to at least start a bidding war of sorts, and perhaps that can end with someone throwing in a little more value.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed.