Four-time rebounding champ exercises option with Bulls

Bulls center Andre Drummond has exercised his player option for 2023-24, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). The move will guarantee Drummond a $3.36M salary for next season.

Drummond, who will turn 30 in August, put up big numbers on a per-minute basis as a reserve center for the Bulls in 2022-23, averaging 6.0 points and 6.6 rebounds in just 12.7 minutes per game (67 games).

However, for the first time in his 11-year NBA career, Drummond didn’t make a single start, playing a limited role behind primary center Nikola Vucevic. His scoring and rebounding averages were career lows, as were his 12.7 minutes per night.

While Drummond might be the NBA’s best rebounder and can certainly score around the basket, the rest of his offensive game is limited, and he’s not a mobile defensive player or an elite rim protector. Once a maximum-salary player, the two-time All-Star presumably determined that he wasn’t assured of topping a $3.36M guarantee on the open market and chose the safety of the opt-in.

It’s unclear whether Drummond remains in Chicago’s plans for 2023-24 or whether the team will look to trade his expiring contract.

Drummond is one of two Bulls veterans who had player option decisions to make this month. While the big man is picking up his $3.36M option, Derrick Jones elected to turn down an identical $3.36M option of his own.