Charlie Villanueva will exercise his $8.5MM player option to remain with the Pistons for the 2013/14 season, the veteran forward tells Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press. Villanueva cited money and the closeness to his son, who lives in Toronto, as reasons for not opting out of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent.
Ellis writes that, although Villanueva has been a disappointment during his four seasons in Detroit, he is likely playing well enough this season to avoid being waived using the amnesty clause this summer. He is the only player currently on the Pistons' roster who would be eligible to be amnestied.