Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters, including our own Dana Gauruder, that extensions for swingmen Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Bullock seem unlikely with the Monday deadline looming.
“We haven’t been able to reach an agreement with either guy right now,” Van Gundy said, per Gauruder. “We’ll see what happens. I don’t think it’s a make or break thing for us. Obviously last year for other reasons, we chose to forego it with Andre and he made the sacrifice not to do it. I don’t look at it as necessary but we would like to get something done.”
Caldwell-Pope and Bullock would become restricted free agents next off-season if they don’t sign agreements by 5 p.m. Monday. Pistons owner Tom Gores will likely face a luxury tax bill for being over the league’s tax line next year, Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press reports. Regarding Caldwell-Pope, Gores has said he wants the Pistons to retain the defensive stalwart and has indicated he will willingly pay the tax, Ellis adds.
“We like both guys and we’d like to have them around a long time,” Van Gundy said. But it has to be something that works for both sides and at this point, we don’t have that.”