The Detroit Pistons and Andre Drummond are taking a page out of the San Antonio Spurs and Kawhi Leonard’s book.
Drummond is up for a contract extension, one that will adhere to the exploding cap. Negotiations were thought to be ongoing with some even thinking the Pistons and their young behemoth would hammer out a long-term agreement ahead of the October 31 deadline. But there will be no extension, and not because Drummond and the Pistons are at a stalemate.
Per Pistons.com’s Keith Langlois, the two sides are actually working in unison:
Andre Drummond wants to delay contract talks until next summer, SVG says
— Keith Langlois (@Keith_Langlois) October 20, 2015
SVG says key to decision is Drummond's relationship with and trust in #Pistons owner Tom Gores
— Keith Langlois (@Keith_Langlois) October 20, 2015
SVG on @AndreDrummondd: "Andre wants to be here long term. He … wants us to have the flexibility to continue to add people to this team."
— Keith Langlois (@Keith_Langlois) October 20, 2015
Understanding this flexibility can be difficult, but it’s actually quite simple. The Pistons and Drummond are following the same blueprint that allowed the Spurs to become major players for LaMarcus Aldridge this past summer.
If Drummond signed an extension now, it would kick in for the 2016-17 season, most likely paying him $20 million-plus. That, subsequently, would be his cap hit leading into next summer. But because he isn’t under any agreement, his hold will only be $8.2 million until he signs his next deal. And so long as he, a restricted free agent, holds off on signing an offer sheet from another team, the Pistons can go about their free-agency business, sign as much talent as cap restrictions will allow and then go over the league-imposed salary threshold, which is expected to reach $89 million, to re-sign Drummond.
That’s the gist of this play, and it’s a smart one. It only becomes a problem if Drummond doesn’t trust the Pistons to take care of him next summer, which he clearly does. There is always the risk that Drummond suffers a serious injury that derails his ceiling and market value, but again, that’s where the trust factor comes into play. He’s only 22 years old, so no matter what injury he suffers, the Pistons would still bet big on him recovering and being worth his price tag.
Assuming nothing goes wrong, the Pistons have essentially guaranteed themselves a happy star while creating an extra $12 million or so cap space. Former Brooklyn Nets Assistant GM Bobby Marks now has them being able to sling a max contract—and perhaps then some:
Note regarding Pistons cap situation. Detroit with $27.59m in room next year including AD cap hold. Increases to $35m w/no Ilyasova.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) October 20, 2015
The Pistons won’t be Kevin Durant players, to be sure. No way he leaves Oklahoma City to reunite with Reggie Jackson, someone who basically didn’t want to play beside him anymore. But there are quality free agents on the market, and with a core of Drummond, Jackson, Stanley Johnson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope already in tow, the Pistons can dole out their cap space to a multitude of complementary performers who set them up for Eastern Conference contention in the near future.
