Getting to 50% at FT line won't be easy for Drummond

Andre Drummond turns 22 next Monday.

The other important number for coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy is 50.

He'd like his big center to shoot 50% from the free throw line this upcoming season.

That might be a tall order for the 6-foot-11 man mountain, who has career averages of 12.1 points per game and 11.8 rebounds.

His rookie season Drummond shot 37.1% from the free throw line. In his second year he improved to 41.8%, however last year he took a step back at 38.9%. For his career he's shooting just 39.7%.

Getting to 50% won't be easy and during an interview on the Lowe Post podcast show Van Gundy was asked if he was surprised teams didn't foul Drummond more.

"We had teams do it," said Van Gundy. "Quite honestly if we get better we'll see it more. I had Dwight Howard and I also had Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal) so I've been through this before. In terms of wins and losses it just hasn't been that effective. It might be effective for a possession or two."

Van Gundy said the strategy of fouling Drummond didn't overly concern him.

The team hired shooting coach guru Dave Hopla, so that could only help.

"I don't think it's hopeless,'' said Van Gundy. "I think my hope would be that this year we could get him up over 50% and we could start pushing 60%. If you get him over 50% then it's not really an effective strategy. If you get to 52% then you're having a quality possession.''

Drummond's free throw shooting numbers and the potential of intentionally fouling him was a reason the Pistons went after San Antonio Spurs backup Aron Baynes. He shoots almost 85% from the free throw line.

"We wanted someone who was skilled enough to play in big situations down the stretch in games in place of Andre if we had to, and who was an outstanding free throw shooter," said Van Gundy.

"It was a big factor in our decision. We ended up with a guy who is an 85% free throw shooter. If you look at all the big guys who were out there this year there's nobody really better than him in terms of field goal percentage or free throw percentage."

Baynes is a career 52.1% field goal shooter and 84.7% from the free throw line. He played in 70 games for the Spurs last year and shot 56.6% from the field and 86.5% from the free throw line.

Translation: If Drummond is struggling late in a game he'll likely be switched offense for defense for Baynes.

Contact Perry A. Farrell: 313-222-2555 or pafarrell@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @farrellperry.