Chicago Bulls get exactly what they needed signing Andre Drummond

As the NBA free agency period opened up, there were a couple dozen moves within the first two hours. But, the Chicago Bulls stayed silent.

The word on the street was that a Zach LaVine decision was not coming immediately after the gates opened, but that he would meet with other teams before an announcement came. With that in mind, fans had to succumb to the reality that a big move might not be happening quickly.

Later on Thursday night, though, the Bulls did accomplish the number one thing general manager Marc Eversley wanted to do aside from a LaVine deal: sign a rim protector to compliment Nikola Vucevic.

Chicago went out and signed veteran big man Andre Drummond to a two-year deal worth $6.6 million

Andre Drummond is precisely what the Chicago Bulls needed and fills a big hole in their roster.

Just a couple of days ago, it was announced that Tony Bradley was opting into his $2 million for the coming season. Still, the Bulls wanted to find an upgrade. Bradley had to know he wasn’t going to get paid elsewhere, so he took the money.

Drummond now comes in and takes the backup center role, and he’ll play it well.

After spending several seasons with the Detroit Pistons to begin his career, Drummond has bounced around. Recently, he’s found himself on teams that thought they could contend for a title: the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets.

Just before those stops, Drummond played with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. He had spent so many years with a losing franchise in Detroit, that it was time for him to try and win.

The biggest advantage Drummond brings to the Bulls is his ability to rebound at a high level. Last year, with the Sixers, Drummond didn’t even play 19 minutes per game but averaged 8.8 rebounds.

Then, after he signed with Brooklyn, Drummond played 22 minutes per game and averaged a double-double: 11.3 points and 10.3 rebounds.

For a guy playing average minutes, Drummond was as efficient on the glass as you could possibly be in his role. He has been one of the league’s best rebounders for his entire career. Although Drummond doesn’t offer much offensively, he’ll dominate the glass.

Bulls fans likely remember the horror that was seeing the bench unit give up so many offensive rebounds. It was painful to watch; so painful, at times, that local announcers Stacey King and Adam Amin were visibly and vocally disgusted on air. They felt the fans’ pain.

No longer will that be the case, though, as Drummond will be all over the glass. The Bulls wanted a rim protector, and that’s exactly what they got. At just 28 years old, too, Drummond has plenty left in the tank.