Cade Cunningham could miss All-NBA, with nearly $50 million at stake for the Pistons

20/03/202622:47

Detroit Pistons

Cade Cunningham’s collapsed lung may affect not only Detroit’s season, but also the future contract outlook for Jalen Duren

Cade Cunningham’s injury, a collapsed lung suffered after colliding with Tre Johnson, could cost him eligibility for NBA end-of-season awards. The Detroit Pistons star is still four games away from the 65-game threshold required to qualify for the All-NBA Team.

If Cunningham fails to reach that mark, the situation could benefit Jalen Duren, who is seen as a borderline All-NBA candidate. With the award now positionless, Cunningham’s ineligibility could open one of the 15 available spots and improve Duren’s chances.

For the Pistons, the financial impact could be massive: if Duren makes an All-NBA team, he would become eligible for a max contract starting at 30% of the cap instead of 25%. According to the projections cited, the gap between those two deals is close to $50 million.

Source: Front Office Sports