THE Detroit Pistons had little hesitation in maximizing Cade Cunningham, offering him a significant multi-year contract during the 2024 offseason.
The extension was a long time coming and didn’t shock anyone paying attention to the rebuilding Pistons since they brought in the former Oklahoma State guard.
Cunningham’s long-term confinement was an expected decision, but was it the right one?
Bleacher Report Eric Pincus was recently noted The Pistons’ decision to offer Cunningham a max extension and a C-minus grade isn’t exactly what a rebuilding club wants to hear when confirming a player is the face of the franchise.
“It’s not that Cunningham isn’t as good as the other three players at their peak, but the Pistons may not be good enough to secure a key piece,” Pincus writes. “Is there a tangible danger that one of the few teams with salary cap space in 2025 will make a max offer to Cunningham? Just a minor offer, and Detroit would still have had first refusal. The Pistons are absorbing all the risk after a 14-win season.”
With the Pistons consistently stuck near the bottom of the Eastern Conference every year for the past five seasons, Cunningham’s progress has been the only factor generating excitement around the team.
After a sophomore season that featured just 12 games due to injury, Cunningham scored a career-best 23 points per game in 62 outings. He improved his shooting across the board, shooting 45 percent from the free throw line, 36 percent from three-point range and 87 percent from the free throw line.
Cunningham also dished out assists at a career-high pace, averaging eight per game. Detroit hasn’t had much success as a team, but Cunningham’s season is hard to ignore.
Even the NBA’s elite players would need a useful support group to succeed in the league. Cunningham certainly hasn’t had a competitive group around him yet. The questions about whether Cunningham can have a real positive impact on winning are valid, but that doesn’t mean the Pistons made the wrong decision.
The grade is debatable, but Cunningham can prove all his doubters wrong as early as next season, as he enters the 2024-25 NBA season with an improved roster and a new head coach.