Andre Drummond won't sign an extension with the Detroit Pistons before the Nov. 2 deadline, making him a restricted free agent next summer, coach and president Stan Van Gundy said Tuesday.
While the development at first glance may appear negative for the Pistons, Van Gundy said the center made the decision in order to give the Pistons cap flexibility.
"Andre wants to be here long term," Van Gundy said, according to Piston.com's Keith Langlois. "He ... wants us to have the flexibility to continue to add people to this team."
SVG says key to decision is Drummond's relationship with and trust in #Pistons owner Tom Gores
— Keith Langlois (@Keith_Langlois) October 20, 2015
As a player entering his fourth NBA season, Drummond is eligible to sign a maximum contract extension in the neighborhood of $120 million over five years. Any contract signed now will count on the Pistons' books, so instead, Detroit will keep the cap space - about $13 million - and can still use its Bird Rights to re-sign Drummond next summer. It's a similar tactic employed by Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs last year, one that eventually put the team in position to sign LaMarcus Aldridge.
Drummond averaged 13.7 points and 13.4 rebounds over the past two seasons. With the departure of Greg Monroe - a natural center forced to play power forward the past three years - the Pistons' spacing will open up around Drummond.
Detroit, which finished six games out of the playoffs last year at 32-50, figures to be in the mix in the East this season.
