3 Bulls on Thin Ice Heading Into the NBA Draft

Chicago Bulls fans finally have something to look forward to now that the 2024 NBA Draft is just a few days away. After going 39-43 during the regular season, the Bulls head to the Barclays Center with this year's 11th overall selection, leaving time to tell if they can find a prospect who finally helps them exit the dark ages.

The arrival of new contributors means it's time to say goodbye to some old faces, though. Whether it's to replace an underperform or a veteran they can no longer perform, the Bulls could use their upcoming first-round selection to replace a player they don't need anymore.

With that in mind, here are three Bulls who are heading into the 2024 NBA Draft on thin ice.

1. Andre Drummond, C

In a year when Bulls fans didn't have much to cheer about, Andre Drummond was one of the brighter spots on the team. The veteran center played his most games since the 2018-19 season (79), averaging 8.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in a bench role.

Nevertheless, Drummond's time in the Windy City could be over. The 30-year-old is an unrestricted free agent this offseason and the Bulls might not be able to afford him. Fellow big man Nikola Vucevic is already on the books for $20 million in 2024-25 while DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Williams are both due for contracts, limiting management's spending money.

While many Chicago supporters would love for Drummond to return, I wouldn't hold my breath. With the Bulls' available cash limited, there's a decent chance that the franchise won't be able to pay the ex-UConn star the same money that a center-hungry team could.

Additionally, the Bulls may just want to get younger. Drummond is in the latter half of his career and his athleticism has started to decline. His efficiency has also regressed, made evident by his 55.6% field-goal and 59.2% free-throw percentages from last season — his worst numbers since 2020-21.

With the opportunity to draft a younger backup center in just a few days, look for the Bulls to replace Drummond with a more youthful option.