Detroit Pistons, Cade Cunningham agree on five-year, $224M max extension
Omari Sankofa IIThe Detroit Pistons have made a significant commitment to their franchise player.
Cade Cunningham, the 2021 No. 1 overall pick, agreed to a max extension worth $224 million over five years on Tuesday, the Free Press has confirmed, securing his future in Detroit through the 2029-30 season.
The contract, which starts at 25% of the salary cap, could reach nearly $270 million (30% of the projected 2025-26 cap) if Cunningham meets supermax criteria by making an All-NBA team in the 2024-25 season.
Cunningham, a 22-year-old guard, is coming off the best season of his career, averaging 22.7 points, 7.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game on 44.9% overall shooting and 35.5% from 3. The Pistons suffered a franchise-worst 14-68 season, but it was a bounce-back campaign for Cunningham after he missed most of his sophomore campaign following shin surgery.
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New Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon expressed his intention to build around Cunningham and will begin his tenure with a potential All-Star caliber guard locked in long-term.
"As for Cade, he and I have had some really good conversations thus far," Langdon said during his introductory news conference in June. "High-character human being, mature beyond his years and a big time basketball player at a young age, averaging 23 and 7 assists last year. We’re going to put a group around him that can bolster his growth, but not make it as hard for him to do the things he had to do this last year, but also help other players get better.
"We want to have other players help him so he can help the other players as well, because he is an unselfish player who I do think has a chance to really be impactful at a high level and be the best player."
Cunningham will have his third head coach in four seasons, with J.B. Bickerstaff now at the helm.
After a poorly built and poorly coached roster under the previous regime, Langdon and his front office has surrounded Cunningham with three above-average veteran 3-point shooters this summer.
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The Pistons acquired guard Tim Hardaway Jr. in a trade from Dallas, agreed with forward Tobias Harris on a two-year, $52 million contract and guard Malik Beasley to a one-year deal in free agency and re-signed forward Simone Fontecchio on a two-year pact.
Though none are plus defenders, the floor should now be opened up far more for Cunningham and fellow backcourt lottery pick, Jaden Ivey.
The Pistons also added athletic rookie forwards Ron Holland (No. 5 overall) and Bobi Klintman (No. 37 overall) in June's NBA draft.
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him @omarisankofa.