Alex Caruso, Kendall Gill praise Bulls' Andre Drummond signing

The Bulls signed Andre Drummond to a two-year, $6.6 million contract in July, their biggest free-agent signing in a relatively quiet offseason. 

Drummond began last season with the 76ers before his trade to the Nets along with Ben Simmons and Seth Curry in the James Harden blockbuster. The veteran center averaged 7.9 points and 9.3 rebounds in 19.7 minutes over 73 games with the 76ers and Nets.

On a recent episode of the "Bulls Talk Podcast," former Bulls player and current NBC Sports Chicago analyst Kendall Gill praised the signing:

“[I] really liked the Andre Drummond signing because I still think he has a lot left in the tank... So now, I believe with him coming on board, it gives us a viable backup. A guy that has been around, that knows the league, that is going to be solid. He’s not going to hurt you when you put him in the lineup.”

On the “The Old Man and the Three” podcast last month, Bulls guard Alex Caruso said the signing was smart:

“I think we addressed a little bit of our backup 5-role with ‘Drum’ coming in. Shot blocker, rebounder, finisher around the rim. Give a lob threat to us — that dynamic that we didn’t have last year which I think is important in the league nowadays, having a vertical threat.”

How Andre Drummond could help the Bulls

Drummond is an upgrade over last season's reserve centers, Tony Bradley (3 points and 3.4 rebounds last season) and Tristan Thompson (5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in 23 games with the Bulls). The Bulls’ only other option was second-year center Marko Simonovic (1.9 points and 1.1 rebounds). 

Drummond’s skills can address Chicago’s problem areas last season: total rebounds and offensive rebounds. The Bulls ranked 28th in the league with 42.3 rebounds per game and 29th with 8.6 offensive rebounds per game.