The Detroit Pistons handed Cade Cunningham a massive five-year, $224 million contract extension this NBA offseason, securing him as a part of their core for the long haul.
However, not everyone thinks the Pistons made the right decision.
Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus has given Detroit a C-minus grade for the Cunningham deal, questioning whether or not the club can afford to sink that much money into one player.
“It’s not that Cunningham isn’t as good as the other three maxed-out players, but the Pistons may not be good enough to lock in one cornerstone piece,” Pincus wrote. “Is there a tangible danger that one of the few teams with cap space in 2025 would issue a max offer sheet to Cunningham? Just a minor one, and Detroit would still have had the right of first refusal. The Pistons are absorbing all the risk after a 14-win season.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Detroit Pistons Updates
The problem for the Pistons is that they have been so bad for so long that they are trying to latch on to any glimmer of hope, and Cunningham seems to provide that.
The 23-year-old is coming off of a 2023-24 campaign in which he played 62 games and averaged 22.7 points, 7.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds over 33.5 minutes a night on 44.9/35.5/86.9 shooting splits.
Is Cade Cunningham really a franchise player for the Detroit Pistons?
That being said, there are some clear downsides to Cunningham’s game.
First and foremost, he has had difficulty staying on the court. He appeared in 64 contests during his rookie season and then just 12 games in 2022-23. That’s very concerning, especially for someone who will be earning $45 million annually on this extension.
Second, Cunningham is a very inconsistent defensive player to the point where he seems non-existent on that end of the floor at times.
Finally, while Cunningham improved his perimeter shot last season, his range remains questionable, and that ultimately affects his efficiency.
The Oklahoma State product owns a career true-shooting percentage of 52.3 percent, which is certainly not what you want from your primary scorer.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Detroit Pistons Updates
Obviously, Cade Cunningham is still very young and has ample time to get better, but given the deal the Pistons just gave him, he needs to begin displaying significant signs of improvement now.
The Detroit Pistons have made just two playoff appearances since 2010, registering just one winning season throughout that span.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
Interested in reading the latest storylines and analysis in the NFL? Check out our partner NFL Analysis Network.
