CSNbbs

Ben Gordon behind to Jason Maxiell who flies through the lane for the dunk in loss to Nuggets.





http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7720999

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/photos?gam...Id=1946105

it's a real life jumpman logo!

and, unlike yancy, mad max actually made his!

Unfortunately, that is about the extent of Max's offensive game in the NBA. He's basically a 5th or 6th option.

Jason Maxiell still debating whether to return to Pistons

As the Pistons continue to evaluate first-round talent for the June 28 draft, forward Jason Maxiell still hasn't decided whether to pick up his option for next season.

Maxiell, 29, is due to make $5 million next season and is coming off one of his best seasons in years — as he stayed in shape and received consistent minutes next to Greg Monroe. He averaged 7.6 points and 5.5 rebounds after the All-Star break, at which point he became a permanent fixture in the starting lineup.

His agent, Andy Miller, said he's still evaluating what kind of market there will be for Maxiell if he were to hit free-agency. The deadline for Maxiell to decide is June 30, the eve of free agency.

Right now, Maxiell is in his hometown of Dallas with his wife and infant son.

"I think we've made progress and we'll continue to do research," said Miller, who became Maxiell's agent during the season. "And we'll make sure to keep Jason up to speed about where we are. There are other markers."

The upcoming draft is a factor, especially for the Pistons, who, by all accounts, will draft a big man.

"The draft has played somewhat of a role, not because they are better players (than Maxiell) but it's letting you know where a team is going," Miller said.

With the NBA's economic climate as such, it's hard to envision Maxiell getting $5 million annually in a new deal from a new team, but capitalizing on this good year and receiving a long-term deal could be the best move.

If the Pistons don't use the Amnesty Clause and bring back Charlie Villanueva, it's likely he'll receive more playing time than the crumbs he got at the end of the year.

Factor in a young big who the Pistons will give every chance to develop, Maxiell's earning's potential — and leverage headed into the summer of 2013 — could be severely lessened. It makes the Pistons' draft, along with the drafts of teams that could be a potential suitor, so important.

"If a team was telling me they were interested in Max but decide to go big in the draft, it would affect some things," Miller said. "If I had a sense as far as who was drafting whom and had the foresight, it doesn't matter who the player is conceptually."

Maxiell has long said he wants to return to the Pistons for the 2012-13 season, and the team doesn't believe he would walk away from $5 million, even if it's just for one season. Maxiell, after being drafted in 2005, signed a four-year $20 million extension in October 2008.

That was after his best season, when he averaged eight points and five rebounds, tying for ninth in the sixth-man voting. Since, his playing time and weight have fluctuated, as the former led to the latter.

But he found a comfort level with coach Lawrence Frank, who knew what he was getting night-in and out from Maxiell, reiterating his belief that reliability can be a player's best asset.

"He proved that with the right coach and right system, he took care of himself and he produced," Miller said.

With a like-built player, Boston's Brandon Bass, declining his $4.5 million option and hitting free-agency, going into unrestricted free agency means a lot of unknowns — and no guarantees.

"Because this is his first time experiencing this, our thrust is to make sure we bring him up to speed and prepare him for the process," Miller said. "I don't know if there's ever a comfortability when a player is headed into the unknown, be it the (best) player or (worst) player, because changes are abound."
[url=http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120615/SPORTS0102/206150440#ixzz1y4TjD5kj][/url]