After a successful stint with the Chicago Bulls that revitalized his career and led to his current contract, Andre Drummond’s move to the Philadelphia 76ers has taken a sharp downturn. Last season proved disastrous for the 32-year-old center, whose performance has rapidly declined.
Originally signed to back up Joel Embiid, Drummond was thrust into a larger role due to injuries, where his limitations were exposed. The 76ers struggled on both ends of the floor with him on the court, posting a negative 14.9 net rating during his minutes. This stands in stark contrast to his time in Chicago, where he was an elite backup big man and a dominant rebounder who often outperformed starter Nikola Vucevic.
The 76ers’ attempts to trade Drummond in the offseason were unsuccessful, and he has since been relegated to a bench role behind Adem Bona in the preseason, signaling he may be out of the regular rotation when Embiid is healthy.
Drummond’s recent struggles highlight long-standing limitations in his game, such as an inability to defend the perimeter or space the floor. Last season, however, new concerns emerged as he struggled to protect the rim and recorded the second-worst field goal percentage of his career.
The timing of his departure now seems fortuitous for the Bulls. Despite their own issues at the center position, the front office avoided a long-term commitment to a player whose performance was about to steeply decline. Conversely, the 76ers are in a difficult position. With Embiid’s injury history and a thin frontcourt, they need a reliable backup, but Drummond’s current form leaves a critical gap in their roster.
While Bulls fans remember Drummond as a positive force, his tenure in Chicago may have been his last as a consistent, high-impact contributor. His future in the league now likely lies in a more limited, third-string capacity.
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