Drummond mum on contract status with Pistons

Andre Drummond knew the question was coming.tmpplchld The Oct. 31 deadline to sign a contract extension looms and everyone wants to know if it will happen.tmpplchld But the Detroit Pistons’ fourth-year center said at media day Monday that he was going to keep thoughts about his contract status to himself.tmpplchld “Everybody comes to a point in time in their career when they are going to deal with contract situations, and it’s better that I keep it as a personal thing and just focus on what I can control right now, which is making my team better,” Drummond said on the eve of training camp.tmpplchld There are many things to resolve during the month before the Oct. 27 season opener at Atlanta, and Drummond’s contract situation is at the top of the list. But things are tricky.tmpplchld Drummond wants to sign the maximum extension, worth around $120 million over five years. And the Pistons are committed to the center who spent one season at UConn before becoming the Pistons’ first-round pick in 2012.tmpplchld Then what’s the problem?tmpplchld The Pistons would like to wait and put off the extension until next offseason.tmpplchld If Drummond agreed, his hold of only $8.2 million would count against the 2016-17 salary cap, not the $20-million hold if he were to sign before Oct. 31.tmpplchld The Pistons could use that roughly $12 million during the league’s free agency period _ and then use their Bird Rights on Drummond to go over the salary cap and retain their own free agent.tmpplchld But there is risk involved. What if Drummond doesn’t play as well? What if he suffers a career-threatening injury?tmpplchld There will be criticism no matter the outcome. If Drummond decides he wants to do it now, some would call him selfish and other would say the Pistons are mismanaging the cap.tmpplchld If they wait, some would call the Pistons cheap in an era of an exploding salary cap. But Drummond is keeping his intentions hidden.tmpplchld “I think with that, I’m not really focused on that,” Drummond said. “I’m just worried about my team right now. When that time comes, it’ll be handled so I’m ready to just worry about my team.”tmpplchld ___tmpplchld (c)2015 Detroit Free Presstmpplchld Visit the Detroit Free Press at www.freep.comtmpplchld Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.tmpplchld