Ranking the 12 Best NBA Contracts Right Now
Which NBA players have the best contracts?
That's a loaded question but one worth attacking. Leaving out two-way contracts that pay almost $579,000 for an entire season, an NBA player can earn anywhere from $1.2 million as a rookie to $49.2 million for a veteran with at least 10 years of experience.
Players can earn even more than that max in some situations, like Stephen Curry with the Golden State Warriors at $55.8 million. With the international attention Curry brings to the franchise, he's arguably a bargain at that price.
The following list of the 12 best NBA contracts focuses more on value deals, where a player's production outpaces their salary:
Guidelines
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Like Curry, LeBron James keeps the Los Angeles Lakers relevant (sold-out arena, max national broadcast appearances, etc.). He's worth every bit of his $48.7 million to the Lakers, but heavy-paid stars (including Luka Dončić and Giannis Antetokounmpo) will be omitted.
Similarly, Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs' 2023 No. 1 pick, is at a favorable number as one of the league's brightest young stars. But his $12.8 million is based on the NBA's four-year rookie scale for first-round draft picks and won't be included on this list.
Additionally, short-term deals that may have been outstanding contracts when signed but are inevitably leading to a rise in pay on the next contract have also been left off. That would include Naz Reid at $14 million this season with the Minnesota Timberwolves (he's unlikely to opt into 2025-26 at $15 million) or Austin Reaves with the Lakers ($26.9 million over the next two years before he likely opts out for a larger annual salary).
It's worth noting that the best contract on the team side may be the worst from an agent's point of view. Conversely, Zach LaVine's deal ($138 million over the next three) is a tremendous contract for his representation, getting him paid before injuries significantly diminished LaVine's production.
A different list of "best contracts" would include those where the player is paid more on potential than their contribution to a winning product, like Cade Cunningham or LaMelo Ball.
But this one is primarily based on team-favorable deals with at least three remaining years, where the player is, relatively speaking, taking a discount.
12. Tyus Jones
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Starting the list at No. 12 is a quick exception to the rule. The Phoenix Suns, desperate for a point guard, were able to sign Tyus Jones to a one-year minimum contract.
Jones, who started most of last season for the Washington Wizards, couldn't secure a typical market deal with most of the teams' scarce spending power going elsewhere this summer.
For $3 million, the Suns get a player ordinarily worth at least the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (almost $13 million). With Phoenix so heavily invested in its three stars (Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal), landing Jones was huge.
Keeping him past this year may be a serious problem for the Suns; why shorter deals have mostly been ignored on this list—but Jones is the standout.
Honorable mention to the Milwaukee Bucks for getting Gary Trent Jr. at his $2.6 million minimum.
11. Jalen Brunson
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Much was made of Jalen Brunson giving the New York Knicks a discount in his recent extension. He actually took the most he could get immediately, starting next season with a 140 percent raise at $34.9 million.
Brunson could have waited until free agency next summer to sign a longer, more lucrative deal. Still, the security of locking in $157 million was worth giving up on the chase of "the most"—which can often backfire on players in a sport where injuries are prevalent.
While this is the largest contract on the list, from the Knicks' perspective, they get to pay their franchise player below a typical max. It's a great deal for both sides, not just for New York.
10. Deni Avdija
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Deni Avdija, 23, is still emerging as an impactful NBA player, but the Portland Trail Blazers have him on a friendly, descending four-year, $55 million deal. Avdija's salary peaks this year at $15.6 million and finishes in 2027-28 at $11.9 million.
The 6'9" forward signed the extension with the Wizards last October. The Blazers got out of the luxury tax in the July trade by sending Malcolm Brogdon to Washington. The price was two first-round picks, one immediately (Bub Carrington at No. 14) and the other in 2029 (second-most favorable of the Boston Celtics, Bucks or Blazers).
That's how eager the Blazers were about picking Avdija on his current contract (along with a rare surplus of draft picks to send out). In his fourth season, Avdija averaged 14.7 points and 7.2 rebounds in 30.1 minutes with the Wizards, shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from three-point range.
9. Caleb Martin
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The Philadelphia 76ers were this summer's big spenders, maximizing their flexibility to bring in Paul George, Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon and Reggie Jackson while re-signing Tyrese Maxey, Kyle Lowry, Kelly Oubre Jr. and KJ Martin. The one contract that stands out is Caleb Martin's four-year, $35 million deal.
Martin, a proven playoff performer for the Miami Heat with NBA Finals experience in 2022-23, was hoping for a more significant contract this summer. With the Heat facing budget issues and few teams with substantial spending power, Martin took just $8.8 million a season (player option on the final year) to join the contending Sixers.
The 6'5" Martin is a career 35.7 percent three-point shooter, but his postseason production over the last two years was significantly higher (42.6 percent). Almost 29, he's still in his prime, and at the price, Philadelphia is getting a valuable rotation player/borderline starter.
8. Payton Pritchard
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The Celtics gave Payton Pritchard four years, $30 million in October—one of the smaller rookie-scale extensions over the last few seasons. For Pritchard, he locked in real money as the No. 26 pick in 2020. If he hadn't taken the offer, the Celtics might have gone in a different direction at the position behind Jrue Holiday (and Derrick White).
With Boston heavily invested in players like Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Holiday and White, Pritchard's economic deal is extremely valuable. His minutes jumped from 13.4 on average in 2022-23 to 22.3 last season—and his scoring climbed to 9.6 points a game on 38.5 percent shooting from three-point range.
Pritchard played a regular rotation role through 19 playoff games as the Celtics went on to win the title. He'll earn just 4.8 percent of this year's $140.6 million salary cap.
7. Max Strus
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The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Max Strus via sign-and-trade from the Heat last July on a four-year, $62.3 million deal. The 6'5" shooting wing started 70 games for the Cavaliers in 2023-24, averaging 12.2 points and 4.0 assists per game.
Cleveland went on to win 48 games and a first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic before falling to the Celtics. Strus played 36.2 minutes a game in the postseason. While his shooting dipped to 34.7 percent over that span, he was essential to what worked for the Cavs.
For a starter on a playoff team, $15.9 million each for the next three seasons is an excellent price—especially with the salary cap expected to climb 10 percent per season.
6. Grayson Allen
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The Suns have their second player on the list, Grayson Allen, who led the NBA last season at 46.1 percent from three-point range. Phoenix disappointed in the postseason by getting swept by the Timberwolves, but losing Allen to a poorly timed ankle injury contributed to that.
Allen, 28, signed in April to a four-year, $70 million extension, an economical price ($17.5 million average) for a starter and elite shooter with secondary playmaking skills. Given how heavy the Suns' payroll is this season (approximately $225 million), getting Allen on a quality contract was a must.
5. Herbert Jones III
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NBA money tends to go to the big-time scorers, but quality role players can be the difference in winning. The New Orleans Pelicans have one of the league's best defenders in Herbert Jones III, who signed a four-year, $53.8 million contract in July 2023.
Jones is excellent value for the Pelicans at $13.9 million a season over the next three years. In addition to earning first-team All-Defensive honors, Jones averaged double digits last season at 11 a game while shooting 41.8 percent from three-point range.
As the NBA salary cap increases, Jones' relative value only increases for the Pelicans over the next few years.
4. Donte DiVincenzo
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The Knicks get their second entry with another Villanova Wildcat in Donte DiVincenzo, who signed a four-year, $49.9 million contract (including $750,000 in unlikely incentives each season) in July 2023.
DiVincenzo projects to earn $12 million a season over the next three years, an outstanding price for the Knicks for a part- (or full-) time starter whose role grew with injuries to teammates. The 6'4" guard, 27, averaged 15.5 points a game while shooting 40.1 percent for New York in the regular season. That grew to 17.8 at 42.5 percent through the Knicks' postseason run.
In seven games, New York ultimately fell to the Indiana Pacers, but injuries played a part in the Knicks' demise. Still, it opened the door for DiVincenzo to prove he's already outpacing his contract.
3. Aaron Nesmith
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The Pacers ousted the Knicks to draw the champion Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, and Aaron Nesmith emerged as one of the NBA's top role-playing wings.
Nesmith started 47 games over the regular season for the Pacers, scoring 12.2 points a game while shooting 41.9 percent from three-point range. Throughout the postseason, Nesmith started 17, and while his offensive efficiency dipped (just 27.8 percent three-point shooting), he was the team's primary defender on the perimeter and at the point of attack.
Nesmith's rookie-scale extension starts this year at a flat $11 million a season ($33 million total through 2026-27). This spot was a virtual tie between Nesmith and DiVincenzo.
2. Jonathan Isaac
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The Magic get points with Jonathan Isaac for using cap room to renegotiate his contract from an expiring $17.4 million for 2024-25 to $25 million and an extension adding four additional years at $59 million.
After this season, Isaac will earn an average of $14.8 million, but only $8 million is guaranteed in 2026-27, with none promised over his last two years. Once he reaches 52 games played in the prior season, Isaac's salary for the following year will be fully guaranteed. If not, the money won't lock in until early January that season.
Orlando stood by Isaac through multiple leg injuries (knee, hamstring). The team is protected if he doesn't stay healthy; his contract becomes a flexible trade piece with its guarantee structure.
Isaac, almost 27, played in 58 games last season, and while he's not a significant offensive threat, he's a highly gifted defensive big at 6'10", 230 pounds. The Magic, who have playoff aspirations, retained an important role player on a mutually favorable contract.
1. Aaron Wiggins
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The Oklahoma City Thunder were the surprise of the 2023-24 season, finishing atop the Western Conference with 57 wins. A lottery team over the prior three years, the Thunder swept the Pelicans in the first round before falling to the Dallas Mavericks in the second.
Aaron Wiggins was just a role player, but he played 78 regular-season games, averaging 15.7 minutes. While the 25-year-old didn't take enough attempts to qualify, his 49.2 percent shooting from three-point range would have eclipsed Grayson Allen's league-leading average.
As a 6'6" bench scorer, Wiggins signed a five-year, $47 million deal with the Thunder (including $2 million in unlikely incentives). While he'll average $9-9.4 million a season, his salary declines year-to-year, culminating in a team option at $8-8.3 million for 2028-29.
With the salary cap climbing 10 percent a year and Wiggins' salary decreasing, his final season projects to be just 3.9 percent of the cap. As the Thunder eventually extend players like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, having Wiggins at that price will be extremely valuable.
Honorable Mention
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The list of shorter contracts at great values for the team is long. Along with Reid and Reaves, Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies is at an excellent price for all he does offensively and defensively at $48.7 million over the next two years.
Mikal Bridges, another Villanova alum on the Knicks, is earning just slightly less than Jackson ($48.2 million over two). The Atlanta Hawks have an upside deal with Onyeka Okongwu ($62 million over four), as do the Detroit Pistons with Isaiah Stewart ($60 million over four, player option on the final season).
Wendell Carter Jr.'s $22.8 million through 2025-26 is a great price with the Magic. Similarly, Orlando recently signed Goga Bitadze to a three-year, $25 million contract.
Josh Green and Grant Williams, both on the Charlotte Hornets via the Mavericks, have similar team-friendly deals at $41 million over three years.
Contract value is subjective, but when a team gets the right combination of price, length and flexibility, it sets itself up for longer-term success.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X/Twitter @EricPincus.
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