Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy watched Aron Baynes and Australia in the Olympics. He knows what Baynes can do and is not surprised how well his center played, despite not getting a medal in the tourney.

Baynes has a player option next season and if he declines to test free agency, Van Gundy knows Detroit could face stiff competition from teams willing to splurge just to get Baynes' services. In preparation for Baynes' inevitable exit, Van Gundy acquired Boban Marjanovic.

The contingency move nets Marjanovic a three-year, $20 million deal. Van Gundy knows the salary cap is bound to get even higher next season. Van Gundy explained the situation in an interview with Parry A. Farrell from Detroit Free Press:

“We’re limited in what we can do with Aron next year,” Van Gundy said. “Two things happen: No.1, by rule, if Aron does opt out, we’re limited in how much we can offer him, by rule, because he leaves in two years. There’s only a certain percentage of his salary we’re allowed to offer him, and it comes in under $12 million a year. If you look at where the prices on big guys went this year on guys like Bismack Biyombo and Ian Mahinmi, that’s far beyond that $12 million.”

If Baynes decides to look for greener pastures in 2017, Van Gundy is more than happy with his replacement in Marjanovic. Van Gundy is impressed with Boban's height and hands.

Marjanovic played in San Antonio in the past, receiving mentoring from Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, which heightens expectations for him even more.