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Detroit Pistons: 2016 Offseason Grades

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 12, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ish Smith (1) dribbles past Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ish Smith (1) dribbles past Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Detroit Pistons
Apr 24, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) takes a shot during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

Drummond Extension

With a five-year, $130 million contract extension for Andre Drummond, the Pistons secured their long-term future as a team on the rise in the East. An average salary of $26 million a year seems like a lot for a player with notable flaws, but under the new salary cap, that’s more than agreeable price to pay for a franchise cornerstone.

At only 22 years old, Drummond is coming off the finest season of his career, averaging 16.2 points, 14.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.4 rebounds per game and earning All-NBA Third Team honors in the process.

Though his free throw shooting and interior defense could definitely stand to improve, Drummond is already one of the best rebounders the league has seen since the days of Dennis Rodman, and he’s only going to get better with the other facets of his game that still need work.

Because both sides agreed to wait a summer to execute this extension, the Pistons preserved valuable cap space, which they used for the Jon Leuer deal. Thanks to the good will between the two parties, Detroit got to bolster its bench and Drummond earned an extension with a starting salary of $22.2 million.

Drummond is not the next Dwight Howard just yet, but he’s still very young and with the league slowly but surely moving toward nixing those BS Hack-A-Shaq tactics that diminish his value, this franchise centerpiece is only going to get better.

For a young team looking to establish stability and start putting together playoff runs, Drummond’s extension was a no-brainer.

Grade: A-

Next: Luring Leuer

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