5 free agency destinations for Andre Drummond

Like so many impending free agents this summer, it makes the most sense for Andre Drummond to stay with head coach Stan Van Gundy’s Detroit Pistons. Van Gundy is doing a marvelous job of rebuilding the Pistons since he took over both head coach and general manager two seasons ago.

Drummond is the ideal candidate for the type of center Van Gundy likes to employ. The skill set that Drummond has often draws comparisons to that of Dwight Howard when he was with the Orlando Magic from 2004 to 2012. For most of his Magic career, Howard played under Van Gundy in Central Florida.

Van Gundy has already brought in a franchise cornerstone at point guard in Reggie Jackson, who came to Detroit last winter in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Van Gundy wisely locked up the reserve guard from the Thunder to a long-term deal with the Pistons.

With both Josh Smith and Greg Monroe out of the Pistons organization, Van Gundy can appropriately build his team around a dynamic talent in Drummond, who can anchor a defense and play a physical brand of basketball offensively.

Under Van Gundy’s tutelage, there is a chance that Drummond could eclipse what Howard was while he was with the Magic. Drummond is coachable and only 22 years old. Barring any unforeseen foot or back injury, he’s probably going to be the best traditional center in the Eastern Conference for the next decade. He is just entering his prime and Van Gundy would be a fool to not keep Drummond with the Pistons in 2016-17 and beyond on probably a maximum contract.