It’s taken two offseasons but NBA fans are finally starting to get used to the “new normal” when it comes to player contracts. This year we saw some of the league’s richest deals ever handed out, with sums far exceeding even last year’s historic agreements.
Of course, this is the new era of professional basketball and after a somewhat unpredictable spending spree last offseason, the market balanced itself out in 2017 thanks in no small part to fewer teams having boatloads of available cap space.
Here’s a quick look at what this summer’s top earners will bring home on their new deals. The figures take only guaranteed money into account and are sorted by annual value.
Stephen Curry, Warriors: $40.2MM over 5 years.
Blake Griffin, Clippers: $33.1MM over 4 years.
Gordon Hayward, Celtics: $31.2MM over 3 years.
Kyle Lowry, Raptors: $31.0MM over 3 years
Paul Millsap, Nuggets: $30.5MM over 2 years.
Otto Porter, Wizards: $26.0MM over 3 years.
Jrue Holiday, Pelicans: $26.0MM over 4 years
Kevin Durant, Warriors: $25.0MM over 1 year.
J.J. Redick, 76ers: $23.0MM over 1 year.
Serge Ibaka, Raptors: $21.7MM over 3 years.
Below, by contrast, are the top 10 annual values* dolled out just four summers ago in 2013.
Dwight Howard, Rockets: $21.9MM over 4 years.
Chris Paul, Clippers: $21.5MM over 5 years.
Al Jefferson, Bobcats/Hornets: $13.5MM over 3 years.
Josh Smith, Pistons: $13.5MM over 4 years.
Andrew Bynum, Cavaliers: $12.4MM over 2 years.
David West, Pacers: $12.2MM over 3 years.
Andre Iguodala, Warriors: $12.0MM over 4 years.
Nikola Pekovic, Timberwolves: $12.0MM over 5 years.
Tyreke Evans, Pelicans: $11.0MM over 4 years.
Paul Millsap, Hawks: $9.5MM over 2 years.
*Values include non-guaranteed money.
Hayward is with Celtic’s.
So, I guess “willing it to happen” is off the table.
Good catch.
#Shaqtin
Wasn’t milsap’s deal 19.5 annual in 2013? Not 9.5
That sounds close to his 2015 deal but you can check out our 2013 Free Agent Tracker here: link to hoopsrumors.com
Basketball-Reference breaks down his annual salaries as well: link to basketball-reference.com
ThIs is a special year for FA players.. Wow Curry breaks $200M barrier And $40M AAV barrier.. Good for him! He deserves it.
My question to you guys, When does the Salary Cap starts showing regression and “evens out”?
I know the $99.1MM NBA salary cap for this year, has had projections as high as $108MM. Maybe it’s already begun and we just don’t know it yet