The Detroit Pistons are locking up point guard Cade Cunningham with a five-year, $226 million rookie max extension, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Cunningham can sign the deal on July 6, when the league’s offseason moratorium on such moves is lifted.
In 62 games last season, Cunningham set career highs in points (22.7) and assists (7.5) after playing in only 12 games in 2022-23 due to a stress fracture in his left shin that required season-ending surgery.
Cunningham, 22, was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Pistons, and was a member of the NBA All-Rookie team that season.
New Pistons president Trajan Langdon has expressed his intention to build around Cunningham and find pieces that can lighten his workload.
“As for Cade, he and I have had some really good conversations thus far,” Langdon said during his introductory news conference on June 21. “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.”
Detroit also brought in new coach J.B. Bickerstaff on a four-year deal earlier on Sunday, signifying a new direction for the franchise that has not won more than 23 games in a season since the 2018-19 season.
