The answer is unlikely to come soon, so in the meantime the questions will continue.
Do the Pistons consider Andre Drummond part of their future...? Are they prepared to shell out the money to keep him...?
Will they extend him before he hits free agency next summer?
Drummond said last week he'd like to remain with the team moving forward, though he's indicated he plans to opt of his contract at the end of this season to test the open market. He'll be forfeiting close to $29 million in 2020-21 by doing so. He'll be looking for more than that, over several years, to eschew free agency before he gets there.
With owner Tom Gores in town Monday for the opening of the Pistons' new downtown practice facility, the questions resurfaced. Gores, of course, is a key player in the conversation, a loyal supporter of Drummond who would like for the core of the team to include him. He greeted him on Monday, as he always does, with a hug.
And that was the first thing he mentioned when asked about the possibility of an extension for the Pistons' longest tenured player.
"We love each other," Gores said.
It's these personal feelings that could cloud a major business decision for the organization. For all of Drummond's raw production -- he averaged a career-high 17.3 points and led the NBA in rebounding last season for the third time in four years -- the Pistons have to decide if he's worth top dollar in today's game.
"We both know the process. We know how dedicated we are to each other," Gores said. "I've said it many times, he's very underrated in a lot of ways for what he does. And culturally he's been so good for this team, just in terms of his attitude. Watching him really grow up -- I met him when he was 18 -- I'm really proud of him."
Gores added that it's "early" in the process. He said talks are happening on a "business level." Senior advisor Ed Stefanski skirted questions about Drummond's future last week, but did say, "We really like Andre, the person and the player." It behooves the Pistons to see how this season plays out. They need to find out whether Drummond can expand his game to make more of a difference on a nightly basis.
But if it were up to Gores, the Pistons would likely extend Drummond right now. He left no doubt when asked if it's a top priority to keep the two-time All-Star in Detroit.
"You guys know, many years in a row, how committed I am to Andre. So it is a top priority, yes," Gores said.
It's a top priority to Tom Gores to make sure Andre Drummond remains a Piston after this season. pic.twitter.com/Gm5KwATLsa
— Jeff Riger (@riger1984) October 7, 2019Drummond helped the Pistons make the playoffs last season for the first time in three years. To Gores, that was evidence that Detroit has a core worth building around in Drummond, Blake Griffin and Reggie Jackson. The latter is also set to be a free agent after this season, so the team could look decidedly different at this time next year.
But for now, Gores likes how it looks. He said the thought of changing directions hasn't crossed his mind.
"Obviously we have to succeed and win, and judge why if we're not winning, but right now we feel really good about it," he said. "Reggie's in great shape, Andre's in great shape, everybody's looking really good. We have to play, we have to see how the chemistry works. But right now we're not questioning it.
"We're very excited, Coach (Casey) is very excited. He's been around the league for a long time, and he likes what he sees."
Coming off last season's playoff appearance, where the eight-seed Pistons were swept in the first round by the Bucks, Gores said the expectation this season is "more."
"We have to do more," he said. "Coach thinks we're in great shape, a lot better than we were last year. We made the playoffs, but we need to get through the playoffs. We need to win. We've got the experience on the team. If we stay healthy, I think this team can surprise a lot of people."
Drummond, no doubt, will have a huge say in that. And Gores, you can bet, will have a say in whether Drummond is here beyond this season. For him, the cost might not matter, but it's crucial the Pistons take a long, hard look at what's best for the team.
