The Detroit Pistons will have Andre Drummond back for Friday night's game against the Toronto Raptors.

Drummond, who has missed the last 22 games while recovering from a stress fracture in his fifth lumbar vertebra, will be in the starting lineup.

Jason Maxiell will move to the bench so the rookie can make his first career start.

Having played just 18 games all season long for the Detroit Pistons and not since Dec. 15, Corey Maggette believes sitting on the bench night after night has been difficult, but the veteran forward has taken a professional approach throughout.

"We're blessed," Maggette said.  "We make a lot of money to run up and down a court and shoot a leather ball into an iron hoop."

Now, Maggette is doing just that solely in practices and shootarounds.

"You see me every day," Maggette said.  "I'm working -- working with the young guys, out on the court, in the weight room, doing everything I can do to be able to play on this team.  But situations happen the way they're going to happen.  Do I know why?  No.  Is there a reason why I shouldn't be playing?  No.  It's tough, because I am a competitor.  But there's nothing I can do about it.

"I'm not going to talk bad about my situation because it's not professional.  It's not what you're supposed to do.  To me, the thing is just to keep working.  A professional, to me, is helping the young guys, who are able to make me better.  And working with Arnie (Kander, strength and conditioning coach) has been great.  It's really helped my body out."

Maggette will be a free agent at season's end.

Andre Drummond sounded less than convinced that his injured back would heal in time to play in the Detroit Pistons’ final 13 games.

"I don't want to sit out, but if it has to come to that, then that's what it has to come to,” Drummond said. "We're just going day by day really. (Trainer Arnie Kander) tells me every day I'm closer and closer, so I just go from what he tells me and continue to follow his instructions."

The Pistons are 5-14 without Drummond in their lineup.

"Nobody likes to lose. Even when I'm not playing it still sucks to lose," Drummond said. "But not being able to play and just watching us lose, it's hard. It's hard just to watch."

The Detroit Pistons will return to the Orlando Pro Summer League this offseason.

The Pistons had been regular participants in the Las Vegas Summer League until last year.

Andre Drummond and Kyle Singler are expected to participate.

Greg Monroe asked the Detroit Pistons front office to take a look at Andre Drummond.

The Pistons ended up selecting Drummond with the ninth pick of the 2012 draft.

"I mean, there's always somebody every year who can help your team," Monroe said. "I'm not sure of everyone who's a (free agent) but there's someone who can help us."

With Jason Maxiell and Will Bynum expected to come off the books, it seems Joe Dumars will have significant salary cap space this offseason.

Monroe is willing to give his input on future player moves.

"If he puts some people that he has in mind in front of me, if he asks me my opinion, I'll give it," Monroe said. "It doesn't mean it'll be the right one or that they'll go ahead with it, but if he asks me, of course, I'll answer. Our better days are definitely ahead."

Andre Drummond will enter the second stage of rehabilitation for his back injury that includes increased basketball activities and conditioning.

No timetable has been placed on the return of Drummond, who has sat out since Feb. 6.

“Team doctors, in consultation with Dr. Robert Watkins and Dr. Robert Watkins Jr. of Los Angeles, are pleased with the progress of Andre Drummond’s recovery from a back injury," the Detroit Pistons said in a statement. "He will continue to be evaluated throughout the rehabilitation and conditioning process and further updates will be passed along at an appropriate time.”

When healthy, Drummond has been impressive in a reserve role this season, averaging 7.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.

The Detroit Pistons will have salary cap space this offseason and O.J. Mayo figures to be at the top of their wish list, especially if Jose Calderon does not re-sign.

If Calderon leaves, Mayo will be able to slide into the Pistons' shooting guard spot while moving Brandon Knight back to point guard.

The Pistons most likely will first see what they plan to do with Calderon and Knight, who have been starting alongside each other in the backcourt since Calderon was traded from the Toronto Raptors.

Greg Monroe may until the end of the 2013-14 season before addressing whether to sign an extension with the Detroit Pistons.

Monroe could enter into talks with the Pistons after his third year, which would be this summer.

"Greg isn't gonna go backwards between his third and fourth year," Monroe’s agent, David Falk said. "I don't think I've ever done an extension after a third year. In the 90's you maxed out a guy after his second, but the (CBA) rules are different now.

"When I evaluate things, with a player of Greg's stature: Take the money out of the equation. I can get it from five different teams. 'Are there players I want to play with? A coach I want to play for? A city I want to live in?' My job is to make the money as insignificant as possible (relatively)."

Monroe is scheduled to become a restricted free agent in July of 2014.

"What incentive does a player have to do an extension after his third year? For me personally, it's difficult to do that," Falk said. “The structure of the CBA, for me, I can't speak for others, I question why that makes sense.”