The Chicago Bulls helped Andre Drummond rehab his value and earn his current contract with the 76ers, but things turned disastrous last season. The 6’11 big man was supposed to back up Joel Embiid, but injuries forced him into a larger role, where he was quickly exposed. The Sixers struggled on both ends of the floor with Drummond, resulting in a negative 14.9 net rating during his minutes. It was likely the beginning of the end for the 32-year-old big man.

Bulls fans remember him outplaying Nikola Vucevic and being a positive whenever he was on the floor in Chicago. Drummond hasn’t been an All-Star since 2018, but he was an elite backup big man and monster rebounder for the Bulls. Chicago found a way to maximize him, but the regression seems to have hit quickly for the 6’11 big man.

The 76ers tried to trade Drummond in the offseason, but couldn’t find a taker. He has been playing off the bench behind Adem Bona this preseason and is likely not part of Philly’s rotation when Embiid is in the lineup. The Sixers clearly want to move on, but have been unable to find a trade partner.

Andre Drummond is falling apart with no sign of recovery

Drummond never could guard on the perimeter or space the floor. He was a limited player in his prime and is years past that. Last season, the 6’11 big man struggled to protect the rim and shot the second-worst field goal percentage of his career. Expecting a big man in his 30s to bounce back from a subpar season is dangerous. It is more likely that things only get worse from here for Drummond.

The Bulls may have moved on at exactly the right time. They had center issues last season and continue to shop Vucevic, but the front office wisely avoided overpaying to keep Drummond. Nobody knew the drop-off was coming so quickly, but Chicago would have been the team if anyone did.

The 76ers badly need Drummond. Embiid played just 19 games last season and is slowly ramping up after his latest knee injury. Philadelphia has Bona, but must have someone else to eat minutes, especially without a true power forward on their roster. If Drummond doesn’t bounce back (and he won’t), it will likely be another rough season for the Sixers.

The Chicago Bulls hope to top Philly in the standings and return to the playoffs. They want Andre Drummond finds his form, but won’t be upset to see the 76ers struggling. Drummond is in his 30s and likely more of a third center for the rest of his career. His days with the Bulls were sadly his last as a positive nightly contributor. Credit to Chicago for moving on at the right time.