Maxiell was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the 26th overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft. On July 5, 2005, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Pistons. On October 31, 2008, he signed a four-year contract extension with the Pistons worth $20 million, keeping him under contract with the franchise until the end of the 2012–13 season. On June 29, 2012, he exercised his $5 million player option, returning to the Pistons for the 2012–13 season.