After dismissing Troy Weaver, the Detroit Pistons hired Trajan Langdon to help build a better future for the franchise. With a keen eye, Langdon foresees that the Cade Cunningham Contract should be long-term to accommodate his strategy of building a championship team for the Detroit Pistons.
The Eastern Conference 15th seed finished their season poorly with 14-68 and a low rating offensively and defensively. The Detroit Pistons offseason gives the franchise more odds of fixing their previous season’s weakness. Does it make sense to give a rookie that much amount?
Cade Cunningham Contract Outlook
The Detroit Pistons’ contract with the rookie should come to an end season. Therefore, the Pistons have to decide how they deal with Cunningham. As the Detroit Pistons aim to rebuild with Langdon, there’s a higher chance of the club keeping the point guard. According to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic:
“I’m 99.9 percent sure that Cunningham gets an extension this offseason. I don’t want to say 100 percent because you never know what can happen, but I’d be stunned if the 2021 No. 1 overall pick doesn’t sign a max rookie extension.”
What makes this Cade Cunningham contract huge is that within five years, the 22-year-old basketballer could earn about $50 million as a rookie. The proposed contract extension is $226 million for five years. Therefore, Cunningham could be earning almost the same salary as Jimmy Butler, if the Heats decide to extend their relationship with the playoff enthusiast.
This contract should make sense as Cade Cunningham’s court performance has shown gradual improvement since he joined the Pistons as the No. 1 Overall Pick in 2021. The up-and-coming basketballer averaged 22.7 points, 7.5 assists, and 4.3 rebounds shooting 54.6% from the floor in 62 games during the 2023-24 season. Also, throughout his three seasons with the team, he’s averaged 20 points, 6.5 assists, and 5 rebounds with a true shot of 52.5% in 138 games.
Detroit Pistons Offseason Outlook
Troy Weaver left the Detroit Pistons with over $60 million cap size during the offseason. Therefore, this cap size allows the Pistons to land crucial players that could help groom the 6’ 6 point guard to a professional level.
The Detroit Pistons could be targeting the Philadelphia 76ers power forward, Tobias Harris. The Sixers are also rebuilding aggressively to become championship contenders and Tobias Harris is part of the player the Sixers should be willing to trade out for a valuable asset. According to Inquirer
“The power forward’s tenure with the 76ers is expected to end once their postseason run concludes. Several NBA executives believe there’s a chance he’ll land with the Detroit Pistons in free agency.”
One of the reasons the Pistons failed badly last season was their defense. Though Jalen Duren is doing a good job, there is room for development to reduce the defense role pressure on the young player. That’s why the Pistons would need elite players who could play well both offensively and defensively.
Thus, improving in these areas should be part of the aims of the club this offseason, if they want to become championship contenders in the future. Also, other players that the Pistons have been scouting to add to their rebuilding plans are Malik Monk, Nic Claxton, and Gary Harris.
About the Author
Wisdom is an email and brand copywriter with two years of content writing experience. He started Cloud Kitchen Concept to help startups and business owners elevate their brands from good to great. You can connect with him on LinkedIn and Instagram to enjoy cooked meals for your business’s growth.
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