It was only a matter of time, but ESPN’s Marc Stein is reporting that Pistons center Andre Drummond is officially locked in for the foreseeable future.
ESPN sources say Andre Drummond's five-year, $130 million max deal with Detroit, meanwhile, is done. Player option for Drummond after Year 4
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2016
Drummond and the Pistons have agreed to a five year max contract that will pay the 22 year old big man $130 million over five years. Drummond averaged 16 points and 15 rebounds last season, and has a really good chance of developing into a guy that can average 20 and 20.
The Pistons made the playoffs for the first time in seven years last season and Drummond was a big reason why. Locking him in now could prove to be a steal for Detroit if Drummond continues to progress, as the salary cap is only going to go up in years ahead.
Drummond is widely regarded as one of the best young centers in the game and it’s easy to see why. His combination of strength, size, and quickness is unmatched when he wants it to be. Of course, the biggest fallback with Drummond is his abysmal free throw percentage. Drummond shot free throws at a below 36% clip last year, making him literally one of the worst free throw shooters in NBA history.
However, the positives far outweigh the negatives, and the Pistons have their centerpiece for the future set in stone. The team was never in any real danger of losing Drummond, due to his restricted free agent status, but the fans and the organization can rest a little easier knowing that Drummond is here for the long haul.
