Tag: Andre Drummond

Andre Drummond recalls first stint with Sixers, wants to win in Philadelphia

Andre Drummond reflected on his first stint with the Philadelphia 76ers and expressed his desire to win in Philadelphia.

CAMDEN, N.J. — While the biggest name the Philadelphia 76ers acquired in free agency is Paul George, the Sixers also brought in another important piece in Andre Drummond. Philadelphia needed a backup center to Joel Embiid and they got a good one.

Drummond played for the Sixers to begin the 2021-22 season before he was sent to the Brooklyn Nets in the James Harden deal. The big man expressed in the past that he was upset with the trade as he enjoyed his time in Philadelphia.

Now that he’s back with the Sixers, Drummond recalled his first stint with the team and is looking forward to winning with this team.

“There’s a few things,” he started. “First of all, just the city itself, the way they embraced me. Coming here and being one of the guys that went up against Embiid early in his career, battled with him, and had those long nights–and to be here now, to play alongside of him, have him embrace me and be here to help him out in the best way I can, and then the team! We had a great core here. We’ve still got some guys left, so I’m excited to see those guys again.”

The veteran out of UConn then turned his attention to the fan base. He wasn’t a favorite of the Philadelphia fans before his stint with the Sixers, but he grew to love them and they loved him back.

“Philly definitely is one of the best fan bases I’ve played for — easily,” Drummond stated. “It’s definitely one of the top fan bases I’ve played for. I love playing here.”

Drummond has historically been one of the top rebounders in the history of the NBA. He is a 2-time All-Star and a starter on playoff teams in the past. He isn’t worried about any of that now. The goal is to win and to do it in Philadelphia so he is ready for any role coach Nick Nurse has in store for him.

“That ship has sailed,” Drummond added. “I don’t really care anymore. That ego is gone. I’m here to win basketball games. I think individually, I’ve done everything I can to make my career what it is, but at this point, I wanna win so I’m happy with whatever role I can get.”

Tyrese Maxey draws praise from new Sixers Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon

Tyrese Maxey draws praise from new Philadelphia 76ers additions Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon.

CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers have had a busy offseason as they have made a slew of roster moves and brought in some big names, but one of the bigger moves the team made was to extend Tyrese Maxey for five years and $204 million.

Maxey is one of the top young guards in the league and is only going to get better after averaging 25.9 points and was an All-Star in 2023-24. The rising star is only going to get better and his maniacal work ethic is going to be beneficial for him in the future.

The fact that Maxey continues to grow has caught the eye of new addition Andre Drummond. Of course, Drummond played with Maxey in the 2021-22 season before he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets at the deadline so he has an idea of what Maxey can do.

“He’s done everything that I expected him to do,” Drummond said. “From the day I met Tyrese, I said ‘This kid is gonna be special’. He’s worked—he never takes any days off! He works on his game. He works on his body. He does everything to try to make himself and this team better so you can’t ask for more from a guy like him and everything he’s gotten is well deserved.”

Maxey has taken big steps forward as a 3-point shooter. He took 8.1 3s per game in the 2023-24 season and knocked them down at a 37.3% rate. It’s obvious that he is only going to get better and help the Sixers take the next step.

That is something that Eric Gordon has seen from afar as he discussed his potential fit for the Sixers.

“Very dynamic guard,” Gordon said of Maxey. “I watched him grow throughout his career. You know, big-time scorer, big high-level scorer, and I think this year with now that you have a lot more guys around him, he can be even more of a playmaker than he has been in the past. I think his game is going to just continue to grow and blossom so I mean, I like where he’s at now, and I like where he’s going to be potentially, and I’m definitely gonna fit in on this team.”

As the Sixers move forward, the pressure will be on Joel Embiid and Paul George to lead the way, but Maxey is going to play a huge role in whatever success the Sixers have in the upcoming season.

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Andre Drummond reveals Joel Embiid called him to rejoin Sixers

Andre Drummond reveals Joel Embiid gave him a call to have him rejoin the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.

CAMDEN, N.J. — Andre Drummond is back with the Philadelphia 76ers. After spending the first half of the 2021-22 season with the Sixers and being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the James Harden deal, Drummond joined the Chicago Bulls for two seasons before signing with the Sixers early in free agency.

Drummond averaged 6.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while playing for the Sixers before the trade. He is without a doubt the best backup Joel Embiid has had in his career in Philadelphia.

In fact, the moment Embiid knew the Sixers could possibly get Drummond back, he gave him a call.

“We always stayed in constant communication, so that relationship never died,” Drummond said on Tuesday. “The moment that he found out there was a possibility I was going to come here, he called me immediately. I respected that. I loved that the most. He FaceTimed me like, ‘Bro, we doing this? What are we doing? What’s happening?’ His excitement overall was truly the pushing factor in me coming here.”

Drummond, who is one of the best rebounders ever to play the game of basketball, had other options in free agency. There were a lot of teams interested in him, but the Sixers made the most sense for him and that’s why he decided to return to Philadelphia.

“Yeah, I definitely had a couple of different options I could’ve looked at, but this one made the most sense for me,” Drummond stated. “It’s familiar, I know what I’m going to get here, and we have a great team.”

That comfort level and familiarity is mostly due to Embiid. The two big men have had a lot of battles in the past. Notably, when Drummond played for the Detroit Pistons, the two of them would go back and forth often. The respect factor is there for both players and the relationship never died even though Drummond was traded.

“As I said, I’ve had a chance to catch him early in my career in Detroit when he was very dominant,” Drummond finished. “I just had this conversation with somebody the other day–it was hard to stop him. It’s still hard to stop him now. He’s gotten even better. His game has just progressed over the years. He’s taken great care of his body and he’s still one of the best players in the league.”

The hope now is that the Sixers will not struggle as much when Embiid goes off the floor now that they have Drummond back on the roster.

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Andre Drummond mentions Sixers’ rebounding struggles vs. Knicks in return

Andre Drummond mentions the rebounding struggles against the New York Knicks for the Philadelphia 76ers as he returns.

CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers have been one of the more active teams in free agency with the additions of Paul George, Andre Drummond, Caleb Martin, and Eric Gordon. All three of those players are expected to make big contributions to the Sixers.

Drummond, especially, will have an important role for the Sixers. He will be the backup to Joel Embiid and will fill an important need off the bench: rebounding.

The Sixers were outrebounded by the New York Knicks 273-247 in the 6-game loss in Round 1. The Knicks averaged 45.5 rebounds per game compared to 41.2 for Philadelphia. That’s a big deficit in a series that was decided by just one single point across the six games.

That’s something Drummond noticed.

“I think that’s why I’m here — to eliminate a lot of those issues,” he laughed. “I’m happy to be valued in that sense, to see the bigger picture. Not just be here for the season, but see my skill set for the playoffs. I’m excited for that.”

Coming off the bench for the Chicago Bulls in the 2023-24 season, Drummond averaged 9.0 rebounds per game in 17.1 minutes per game. He posted a robust 29.3% rebounding percentage and that’s something he knows what he can bring to the Sixers.

“I don’t think it’s ‘think’ at this point,” Drummond said of what he thinks he can bring to Philadelphia. “It’s a ‘know’. I know what I bring to the table. I think this staff knows what I bring to the table and this team knows what I bring to the table so it’s great to be honored in that sense. To know what I’m wanted somewhere.”

For a team that had issues rebounding the postseason loss to the Knicks, having a guy like Drummond aboard now should fix those problems.

“I pride myself on that,” he said of his rebounding. “I set out from that from my rookie year is to be the best there ever was to do it and I still stand on that to this day. I’m the best rebounder to ever play this game and I’m gonna make sure I leave that mark.”

Drummond, of course, played for the Sixers in the 2021-22 season before he was shipped to the Brooklyn Nets in the big James Harden deal. He expressed in the past how disappointed he was in the deal and how he wanted to remain with the Sixers. Now, he’s ready to be back and help Philadelphia.

“It feels like home,” he smiled. “It feels good to be back. I’m excited to try again and be here for the entire journey. I’m looking forward to what’s to come.”

For Drummond, this is the place he feels as if he needs to be.

“Yeah, it’s like full circle,” he said. “It’s full circle. Teetering between trade deadlines–hearing Philly this and Philly that. To have the opportunity to be back here again and play in front of these fans, I’m grateful and I’m excited.”

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Big man Andre Drummond takes to Twitter to react to rejoining Sixers

Andre Drummonds takes to Twitter to give his reaction to rejoining the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.

The Philadelphia 76ers made their early move in free agency on Sunday evening when they agreed to terms on a 2-year deal with big man Andre Drummond. The former 2-time All-Star played for the Sixers in the 2021-22 season before being sent to the Brooklyn Nets.

In two seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Drummond averaged 7.3 points and 7.9 rebounds while being one of the elite rebounders in the NBA. He had a rebounding percentage of 29.3% in the 2023-24 season as he will fill a huge need for the Sixers on the glass.

After agreeing to the deal to return to the Sixers, Drummond took to Twitter to give his reaction to heading back to Philadelphia.

The Drummond addition is going to be a luxury for the Sixers when Embiid is able to play, but he will be a must-have for Philadelphia when the big fella misses games. He will also be helpful in the playoffs when it comes down to grabbing critical rebounds.

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Report: Sixers to sign Andre Drummond to 2-year $10-plus million deal

The Philadelphia 76ers have reportedly agreed to a 2-year deal with big man Andre Drummond.

The Philadelphia 76ers are currently in the middle of trying to bring in another max player to join Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, but they also need to fill out the rest of the roster.

As the Sixers look to figure out the backup center spot behind Embiid, they have reportedly agreed to a 2-year $10-plus million deal with Andre Drummond. The former 2-time All-Star played 49 games for Philadelphia in the 2021-22 season before he was shipped to the Brooklyn Nets in the Ben Simmons-James Harden deal.

Drummond has spent the previous two seasons with the Chicago Bulls where he averaged 7.3 points and 7.9 rebounds across 146 games including 10 starts.

Drummond is arguably the best backup Embiid has had during his time in Philadelphia. He is an elite rebounder and is somebody who the Sixers can turn to when Embiid misses time. He also provides some much-needed size when the time calls for it.

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Bulls could lose Andre Drummond in the offseason

The Chicago Bulls are expected to lose Andre Drummond once the free agency period begins in the summer.

Andre Drummond could leave the Chicago Bulls during the offseason. The veteran big man is heading into unrestricted free agency and could garner interest from multiple teams around the NBA. Drummond was almost traded to the Philadelphia 76ers at the Feb. 8 trade deadline before the Bulls pulled out of the deal.

Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times has reported that Drummond is expected to move on from Chicago this summer despite his legitimate impact when checking into games off the bench. Drummond averaged 8.4 points and 9 rebounds per game while shooting 55.6% from the field.

“What remains to be seen, however, is what direction do the Bulls go? Do they prepare for DeMar DeRozan possibly leaving in free agency or if he does return — the more likely scenario — draft his heir apparent at the small forward position?” Cowley wrote. “Do they grab a big to replace the expected vacancy with Andre Drummond looking for a new team, as well as some youth to push starter Nikola Vucevic?”

Drummond will likely field offers from multiple contending teams throughout the summer. His size and rebounding ability will be a major draw for teams that are looking to shore up their defense and like to control the tempo of games.

Nevertheless, the Bulls may need to start shopping around for a new backup center, as Adama Sanogo is also set to hit the (restricted) free-agent market. The upcoming free agent period projects will be interesting for the Bulls.

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Andre Drummond could end up leaving Bulls in free agency

Will the Chicago Bulls lose Andre Drummond in free agency this offseason?

Free agency will be an interesting time for the Chicago Bulls as they look to potentially reshape their roster. One guy who could leave is Andre Drummond, who will be an unrestricted free agent. Aaron Kellerstrass of Pippen Ain’t Easy believes that there is only a 25% chance that Drummond is back in Chicago next year.

“Drummond had a good year for the Bulls, so there may be some interest in bringing him back, but it’s going to cost more than $3.3 million,” Kellerstrass wrote. “Drummond established himself as one of the better backup centers in the league, and while his next contract won’t break the bank, he is still only 30 and can likely find a more lucrative long-term deal from someone.

“The Bulls need depth at center, and I’m sure they’d love to bring Drummond back at the right price, but with other teams out there with cap space and needs of their own, Drummond may find a better deal than the one the Bulls are willing to offer.”

Drummond has played well during his time with the Bulls, but it would make sense for both parties to move on.

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Bulls need to re-sign of replace Andre Drummond this offseason

The Chicago Bulls need to re-sign or replace Andre Drummond this offseason.

Andre Drummond just enjoyed a solid season for the Chicago Bulls, but now, he will be an unrestricted free agent. When ranking the Bulls’ priorities this summer, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report said that re-signing or replacing Drummond should be one of their top three items to take care of.

“Two summers back, the Bulls brought Andre Drummond to the Windy City on a two-year, $6.6 million deal. The return on that investment has been significant,” Buckley wrote. “The veteran has been one of the league’s most productive backup bigs over this stretch. He doesn’t seen a ton of floor time due to rather severe offensive limitations—he adds next to nothing away from the basket—but he absolutely makes the most of his minutes. His per-36-minutes averages speak to that interior activity: 18.9 rebounds, 17.4 points and 3.1 combined blocks and steals, per Basketball-Reference.

“Those numbers will get him noticed as an unrestricted free agent. The question is whether they’ll also get him a richer deal than Chicago wants to pay. If he bolts out of town for more money, minutes or both, the Bulls will feel his absence and have to respond to it with a signing of their own.”

The Bulls don’t have much center depth, and Drummond has been solid for them. They can’t let him walk without having a good replacement option in mind.

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Billy Donovan expresses frustration after Craig-Drummond collision

After the Torrey Craig-Andre Drummond collision, Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan shared his thoughts.

The Chicago Bulls took on the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. After a brief period when the game was close at the start, the Knicks earned a fairly comfortable victory. New York took down Chicago by a score of 128-117, and at its largest, their lead was 17 points in the third quarter.

But as if that weren’t bad enough, the Bulls also had a viral moment at the beginning of the second quarter. Torrey Craig was on a fastbreak when he decided to throw the ball off the backboard for a self-alley-oop. However, Andre Drummond thought he was throwing it to him, so the two players collided mid-air.

Head coach Billy Donovan expressed his frustration with the play after the game. (H/t ESPN)

“To me, it was just really disappointing,” Donovan said.

The Bulls need to win as many games as possible down the stretch of the season, but plays like this won’t help.

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