NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bulls reportedly had a deal done at the trade deadline before having a change of heart.
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Philadelphia 76ers believed that were set to acquire big man Andre Drummond to help fill the void created by Joel Embiid’s meniscus injury. Drummond had previously served as Embiid’s backup during the 2021-22 season before signing with the Chicago Bulls as a free agent in 2022.
Here’s what Scotto shared in his latest intel piece:
“The 76ers believed they had a trade done to acquire Bulls center Andre Drummond before Chicago pulled out of talks hours before the deadline, league sources told HoopsHype. The Bulls wanted three second-round picks for Drummond, league sources said. For context, the Nets acquired three second-round picks in the three-team Royce O’Neale trade.”
I encourage you to read the full piece here.
Did the Bulls Screw Up an Andre Drummond Trade?
You got to be kidding me. Originally, we knew interest was significant for Drummond, but it felt like the Chicago Bulls refused to do fair business. We’re now learning that they seemingly found a suitable trade return – so much so the 76ers believed a deal would get done – but pulled out on the day of the deadline. WHY!?
At the very least, it made plenty of sense to move on from Drummond. The big man has played great basketball this season and is headed toward unrestricted free agency. With Nikola Vucevic signed long-term, the chances of Chicago keeping Drummond remain low. Not only is the veteran bound to make more money on his next deal, but there are likely several teams out there willing to offer Drummond a more substantial role. Heck, even if the minutes were somewhat similar to what he’s seen in Chicago, I have to imagine he’d rather clock those minutes with a true contender.
Scotto noted the Bulls wanted three second-round picks for Drummond. It’s unclear whether or not Philly was willing to meet that asking price, but it sure sounds like they were. After all, the Bulls were reportedly the ones who “pulled out,” which implies that their offer was met. The alternative would be that they practically agreed to a deal for less than that before abruptly changing their mind/demanding more.
For what it’s worth, Philly went on to add Buddy Hield for just two second-round picks in a four-team trade. I have to wonder whether or not they shifted to this deal after the Bulls trade fell through or had hopes of completing both transactions. Scotto also reports that the Celtics and Mavs made offers for Drummond. The Celtics sent two second-round picks to Memphis for Xavier Tillman, while the Mavs sent out two future first-round picks in deals for Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington.
Anyhow, this news just adds to the confusion and frustration around this latest deadline. The Bulls clearly had several suitors in their lap for a player who is likely to leave in the coming months and opted not to do business. Even if we’re only talking about a couple of second-round picks, those have proven to be increasingly valuable in recent years. Not only have we seen them used in trades more often, but the league is deeper than ever before. Let’s not forget that Ayo Dosunmu was a second-rounder, folks!
For more about the Bulls’ trade deadline decision-making, you can read our recap of the nothingness here …
