GRAND RAPIDS - The Grand Rapids Drive turned down an offer from the Detroit Pistons to move the team, its owner said Friday, a move that now leaves the franchise preparing for a future as a NBA G League independent.

In the past year, the Drive learned the Pistons wanted their G League affiliate located closer to Detroit and the team passed on the opportunity, said Steve Jbara, co-owner of the Drive.

"We wouldn't have made this decision to stay firm if we didn't believe that we could be sustainable here in Grand Rapids," he said Friday. "I don’t have fears about that. I don't have fears about the franchise value, either.

"The issue is I love the business and I love the team and so does the investment group," he added. "We're in an incredible market and that we'd hate to lose all that."

Instead, the Pistons on Wednesday announced their plan to bring a G League team to a new basketball arena just approved at Wayne State University.

In response, the Drive plan to remain in Grand Rapids and keep their G League franchise, said Jbara who along with wife, Sarah Parfet Jbara, and a small investment group purchased the franchise from Springfield for $4.5 million in March 2014.

Either way, nothing changes for two years as the Drive’s affiliation agreement with the Pistons runs through the 2020-2021 season.

The two options ahead? Attract another NBA team as an affiliate or operate as an independent. That later would make them the lone wolf under the current league configuration.

As a G League independent, they would not have access to two-way players - such as Kalin Lucas and Isaiah Whitehead made available this season from the Pistons - but would likely have a more veteran-laden and stable roster. They also would be responsible for team payroll.

The team would still participate in the league draft, its players available to be contracted to the NBA and afforded every other right as a G League team, Jbara said.

"Yes, that would mean we'd play in the same division as that (new Pistons affiliate), he said. "Makes a nice rivalry game, wouldn't it?"

Another NBA team could also find the Drive attractive as an affiliate since it is already in an established market, though Jbara said that's probably unlikely.

He said a move to a lower league, such as the NABL or ABA is not an option.

The Drive were purchased under a hybrid ownership model in which local ownership handles community development and the parent NBA club handles basketball operations. There are currently three other teams operating under that model, Jbara said. The rest are owned by an NBA franchise - such as what the Pistons plan to do with a new team at Wayne State.

The Drive turn a profit. “Not significant," Jbara said. "But we’re one of the few teams in the league that do.”

The Jbaras lead SSL Group that includes 22 investors. Among them is former Pistons great Ben Wallace, who came on board two years ago.

"Ben's ours," Jbara said. "He's a Grand Rapids guy now."

The Drive will also have to decide where to play. They have two years left on an agreement at the DeltaPlex Arena with an option to leave after one more season, Jbara said, adding that Van Andel Arena has been discussed but scheduling is a challenge.

This season, the team averaged 3.070 fans, based on attendance figures for 24 home games at the DeltaPlex Arena. The arena, built in 1952 and extensively remodeled in 1998, lists basketball seating at 5,000.

The Drive’s attendance topped 5,000 on two occasions and was under 2,000 on six other dates.