Motor City’s star point guard Cade Cunningham remains one of the very few bright spots when it comes to the Detroit Pistons, as evidenced by a massive contract extension he just signed with the team. The thing is, Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes got a bigger bag of money, leading fans to wonder why.
Cunningham had a successful high school career, starring at Bowie High School and later transferring to basketball powerhouse Montverde Academy in Florida. He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2020 class.
The talented guard committed to play college basketball for Oklahoma State, where he had a standout freshman season. He was named a consensus first-team All-American, Big 12 Player of the Year, and won numerous other accolades. After his successful collegiate campaign, Cunningham declared for the 2021 NBA Draft and was selected first overall by the Detroit Pistons.
In his rookie season with the Pistons, the number one pick showcased his all-around game and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. However, the 2022-23 season was interrupted by a season-ending injury, but he was able to make a successful return to the court in 2023-24. Cunningham’s combination of size, skill, and basketball IQ have made him one of the league’s most promising young stars.
The Reason Why Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes Received a Bigger Contract Extension Than Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham
Just recently, Cunningham signed a five-year $226 million contract extension with the Pistons. The thing is, Barnes can get a bigger bag than the Detroit star for a reason not included in the latter’s contract, as seen in an article written by Sam Quinn for CBS Sports.
“Notably, the initial reporting here was for the $226 million max figure. That is obviously a significant amount of money, but it’s far lower than the $270 million that Scottie Barnes, the No. 4 pick in that same 2020 draft, reportedly signed for. The difference would seemingly come in the form of Rose Rule escalators.
The maximum amount Cunningham or Barnes could have been guaranteed was $226 million. However, with those escalators, they could have earned an additional $44 million by making an All-NBA Team, winning Defensive Player of the Year or winning MVP next season. Barnes seemingly has those escalators in his contract. The reporting thus far suggests that Cunningham will not,” Quinn wrote.
As it stands, Barnes has a chance to fulfill those conditions. Just last season, the Raptors star averaged 19.9 points on 47 percent shooting from the field, 8.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. He has the physical tools and skill to make an All-NBA team, or even win a DPOY down the line, making him eligible for more money from his contract extension with the Raptors.
It remains to be seen whether Barnes can end up with the bigger contract than Cunningham or not. In any case, the latter will be more motivated to prove his worth when the upcoming season starts later this year.
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