AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Detroit Pistons big man Andre Drummond is in line to sign a max contract extension this summer.
Pistons owner Tom Gores made it clear after Sunday night's season-ending Game 4 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers that he has no qualms about giving Drummond big money.
"No hesitation," Gores said in the Pistons locker room after the game. "Come on, look at all the big guys in the league. Come on."
Drummond did not sign an extension before this season's deadline, in a partnership with the team to increase salary-cap space, coach and team president Stan Van Gundy told ESPN's Brian Windhorst in October.
Asked if Drummond wants to stay long term, Gores sounded cautiously optimistic.
"You'd have to ask Andre, but I think we have a great relationship," Gores said. "I think he likes Detroit, but you'd have to ask him."
The Pistons made the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
Drummond, who made his first All-Star appearance this season, was appreciative of his team's success.
"I've been here the longest," he said. "I'm the last remaining person from my draft class. And I've seen it all. I've been here for four long years, and it's been a struggle. So for us to play the way we've played this season and come out and prove so many people wrong saying that we weren't going to be good enough, that we were such a young team. For us to overcome injuries, different things going on, and to be in the playoffs and play like that, you can't help but hold your head high."
For his part, Gores seemed pleased with the way the organization is moving forward.
"I think that we made a lot of progress," he said. "We obviously would want to go further than what we just did, but I think you guys probably agree we were pretty successful this year. And if you look at this crew, our starting five, what's the average age? 24?
"This is a culture that's really, really good. Again, I got to go back to Stanley [Johnson]. The progress he's made really literally in under two years, a year and a half. I feel really good about [the culture]. Tonight, I [can't] tell you my stomach's not hurting. It's hard to see the season over. But I'm also very proud of [the team]. I really am."