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Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars would like to have power forward Jason Maxiell return next season.
But as he put it at his season-ending media availability last month, the decision is up to Maxiell, who has until June 30 to let the team know whether he will pick up his option of $5 million.
"It's a player option so that's totally in his hands," Dumars said. "Obviously we'd love to have Max back.
"I think clearly this was his best year. He was in the best shape of his life. He looked great."
Although his stats of 6.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game are pedestrian, a catalyst of the Pistons' .500 finish after starting the season 4-20 was Pistons coach Lawrence Frank putting the 6-foot-4 Maxiell into the starting lineup instead of someone who isn't a power forward.
The Pistons' interior defense picked up, and he ate a baby or two as he seemed to respond to Frank's faith healing.
Maxiell said toward the end of the season that he hasn't made up his mind, but he did recently hire super-agent Andy Miller, so it's obvious he wants to get paid.
If he decides to opt out, it's unknown whether Maxiell could attract a multiyear deal at $5 million per season, given how league spending is down and how he hasn't done enough to earn it. But could he attract a three-year deal at a lesser amount per season? Ideally from someone else?
