Detroit Pistons Agree On Contract Extension With Andre Drummond
According to a report, Andre Drummond and the Detroit Pistons are closing in on agreeing on a contract extension. The superstar center is a key part to the Pistons and should return to the Motor City.
The Detroit Pistons and superstar center Andre Drummond have reached an agreement on a contract extension, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein. Drummond’s contract will be a five-year max contract in the $130 million range.
Drummond’s rookie contract expired following this past season, his fourth NBA season, meaning that he was in need of a new one. It couldn’t be a more perfect time for Drummond, as the NBA’s salary cap has risen to $94 million.
Drummond, 22, is one of the Pistons’ centerpieces and for good reason. He joins a young core that is signed long-term and committed to winning in Detroit.
Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris and Tobias Harris are all Pistons that are signed long-term. They also have Stanley Johnson, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Darrun Hilliard on their rookie contracts and just added Henry Ellenson and Michael Gbinije in this year’s NBA Draft.
Sources say Drummond and Detroit, like Bradley Beal and Washington, are on the brink of a deal and on course to finalize terms later Friday
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2016
Drummond was the ninth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft and has blossomed into a top five center in the league. He led the NBA in rebounding last season, securing 14.8 rebounds per game.
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He is a solid scoring option for the Pistons, averaging 16.2 points per game. His abysmal free throw percentage is a cause for concern going forward, however. He shot a career-worst 35.5 percent from the free throw line last season and became a target for intentional fouling for opposing teams to steal possessions from Detroit.
Drummond has also emerged as a top defensive player. He averaged 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game last season. He also plays physical defense that can sometimes get him in trouble, playing undisciplined and getting in foul trouble early in games.
Drummond’s ability is unquestionable. He was named to his first All-Star team last season and was selected to the All-NBA Third team at the end of the season. The accomplishment secures his place as a top-three center in the league.
Detroit has also agreed to a three-year deal with point guard Ish Smith. He will be a solid point guard to bring off the bench and should help the second unit improve after finishing last in bench scoring last season, according to NBA.com.
The Pistons were able to free up some extra cap space by trading shooting guard Jodie Meeks to the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The trade for a future second round pick freed up $6.5 million for Detroit to spend in free agency. Meeks simply didn’t have a spot in the rotation behind Caldwell-Pope, Hilliard and Gbinije, so moving him gives the Pistons needed cap flexibility.
Now Detroit can add even more to their bench. They could pursue a backup power forward to play alongside Aron Baynes or Ellenson off the bench. That should be their main focus for the remainder of free agency.
Related Story: Jodie Meeks Deal Gives Pistons Needed Cap Flexibility
The biggest part of the offseason for the Pistons is complete with Drummond agreeing to a contract extension. Detroit is close to checking off all of its offseason boxes and building the roster up for another playoff run in 2017.