Cade Cunningham and the Pistons extend their contract by 5 years and $224 million; maximum value $269 million

After rumors at the beginning of free agency that a deal was close, Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons have finally agreed on the terms of a maximum contract extension.

Jeff Schwartz and James Dunleavy, Cunningham’s agents, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the Oklahoma State graduate has agreed to a five-year, $224 million contract extension that could earn him up to $269 million if he makes the All-NBA team.

Shams Charania and James Edwards III reported on June 30 that the Pistons planned to extend Cunningham’s rookie max contract by five years.

In the ten days that passed without a formal announcement from the Pistons or Cunningham’s camp, the possibility remained open that the two sides may have haggled over terms.

Cunningham is the third member of the 2021 draft class to agree to a max contract extension this offseason. The Orlando Magic extended Franz Wagner’s contract on Sunday. Scottie Barnes signed a five-year contract extension with the Toronto Raptors on Monday.

The Pistons have had a busy offseason so far as they look to improve on their 14-win record from last season. They have signed Tobias Harris and Tim Hardaway Jr. and reached agreements with Malik Beasley and Simone Fontecchio.

All of the Pistons’ moves were to support Cunningham, and after being limited to 12 games in the 2022-23 season, the 22-year-old had the best season of his young career in the 2023-24 season.

Cunningham was the Pistons’ leading scorer (22.7 points per game) and assists (7.5) in 62 games, and set career highs in field goal percentage (44.9) and three-point percentage (35.5).

New head coach JB Bickerstaff is tasked with turning around a club that is coming off the worst season in franchise history and has not made the playoffs since the 2018-19 season.

That’s a tall order for anyone at this point, but Cunningham’s continued development into a No. 1 option gives Bickerstaff a major building block. The Pistons have left no doubt that they believe in him as their franchise player with this contract extension that could keep him in Detroit through the 2029-30 season.