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The Pistons’ dream season hit a roadblock that could prove costly.
Detroit star Cade Cunningham sustained a collapsed lung Tuesday after colliding with Wizards rookie Tre Johnson. The injury puts Cunningham—who will be re-evaluated in two weeks, the team said—in jeopardy of missing the NBA’s 65-game eligibility requirement for season awards, including the All-NBA team.
Cunningham is only 4 games shy of the 65-game threshold, and the Pistons have 13 games remaining on their schedule. If he returns exactly two weeks from Thursday, Cunningham could meet the games-played marker as the Pistons would have 6 games remaining.
But the average time lost for players with a collapsed lung is 26 days or about 10.8 games, according to Jeff Stots, an athletic trainer who covers injuries for InStreetClothes. That amount of time away would leave Cunningham short of the 65-game mark.
Cunningham’s loss could be fellow Piston Jalen Duren’s gain.
Duren, who made his first All-Star Game this year, is a borderline All-NBA selection. Cunningham’s ineligibility would open up one of the 15 All-NBA slots. Although the two play different positions, the league changed All-NBA rules in the 2023–24 season to make them “positionless.” Before that season, voters selected two guards, two forwards, and a center for each All-NBA team.
An All-NBA team selection would shake up the offseason market for Duren, who is a restricted free agent. Should Duren make an All-NBA team, he would qualify for a max contract from the Pistons worth 30% of the NBA salary cap this offseason versus 25% if he misses out on the team.
The NBA salary cap is not yet determined for next season and beyond, but cap experts tell Front Office Sports that the difference between Duren’s deals may be close to $50 million.
Colin Maher of CBAguide.com and Spotrac contributor Keith Smith tell Front Office Sports a max extension at 30% of the cap is projected to be worth around $288.8 million over five years. If Duren misses the All-NBA team, he’d be eligible for a max deal worth $240.7 million over five years, a $48.1 million difference.
The Pistons, currently the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, could have secured Duren for significantly less if they signed him to an extension this past offseason when he was seeking a deal north of $30 million per year, per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. The two sides did not agree on a deal which is why the fourth-year player is a restricted free agent this summer.
However, Duren’s leap to All-Star status this year was unexpected. He is even the betting favorite to win the Most Improved Player award.
Even though Duren is a restricted free agent, Detroit is the only team that will be able to offer Duren a max salary at 30% of the cap, Maher notes. Other teams are limited to offering a max deal at 25% of the cap.
Still, Duren could ultimately miss the All-NBA team, regardless of Cunningham’s status. The center also needs to play at least six more games himself to hit the 65-game mark.
