Best Contracts in the NBA Right Now

There are few things more valuable to an NBA franchise than a standout player with a reasonably-priced contract.

Amid the myriad of albatross contracts and rosters full of underachieving multi-millionaires, there are a handful of players who aren't breaking the bank. They give their teams phenomenal production in relation to what they're paid.

Teams like the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers own some of the most expensive payrolls in the league, yet they all have critical role players who were willing to sign modest deals.

Which player-team combos made our list of the top 10 contracts in the NBA? 

Who Didn't Qualify?

To give an accurate representation of the best contracts in the league, we excluded the following types of contracts or situations:

Players still on rookie-scale deals: Sure, guys like Kyrie Irving and Harrison Barnes are bargains right now, but that's because they're working through their first contract. If teams were allowed to pay them more, they certainly would.

One-year add-ons for veterans 35 and up: It's great when teams can sign a proven veteran to a pint-sized deal, but it's not that impressive when the player is pushing 40 years old and his stock is severely diminished.

Max-deal players with inestimable value: Technically, a megastar and global icon like LeBron James is a bargain, even though he's earning $19 million a year. However, the Miami Heat would never be able to pay him what he's truly worth in brand recognition, television ratings and overall success.

10. Byron Mullens, Los Angeles Clippers C

2013-14 Salary: $947,907
Total Deal: 2 years, $2 million

He's not particularly dominant, consistent or efficient, but Byron Mullens was an excellent pickup for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Three simple facts make his two-year, $2 million deal a bargain: He's 7'0", 24 years old and can shoot smoothly from the perimeter.

Mullens shot a dismal 39 percent from the field in 2012-13, but don't expect similar results now that he's surrounded by competent pros at every position. He will thrive as an inside-out threat, with little pressure to produce substantially.

All he has to do is let the game come to him, and he'll fill his role wonderfully. L.A. will be more than glad it signed him for a million per year.

9. Reggie Evans, Brooklyn Nets PF

2013-14 Salary: $1.7 million
Total Deal: 3 years, $5.1 million (through 2015)

Most players with Reggie Evans' offensive skills aren't even in the NBA, or Division I hoops for that matter.

But here we are, calling the Brooklyn Nets reserve forward a "bargain." Why? Because he gets his squad extra possessions every night, and he prevents opponents' second chances with his tenacious rebounding prowess.

He's always been superb on the glass, but the 2012-13 campaign saw his highest rate of success.

Evans hauled in 11.1 rebounds per game during just 24.6 minutes of play. That translates to an outstanding 16.3 boards per 36 minutes. From January through the end of the season, he registered nine 20-rebound games, as he was uncontainable in the paint.

He simply wants the ball more than anyone else on the court, and he'll do whatever it takes to get it. Evans' ability to control the glass for entire stretches makes his $1.7 look quite affordable.

8. Nate Robinson, Denver Nuggets PG

2013-14 Salary: $2 million
Total Deal: 2 years, $4.1 million (through 2015)

For just $2 million per year, Nate Robinson brings the Denver Nuggets a huge boost in the backcourt, bolstering their depth and providing an excellent insurance policy if something happened to Ty Lawson.

His 5'9" stature and defensive question marks didn't help his cause for a more lucrative pact, so Denver got a great deal for a dangerous reserve playmaker.

During his time with the Chicago Bulls, Robinson filled in admirably while Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich were sidelined. He recorded a career-high 41 percent on three-pointers in 2012-13, as well as the second-highest points, assists and points-per-minute marks of his career.

There's nothing stopping him from putting up similar figures with the Nuggets, as he'll have ample support from the frontcourt and a great starting point guard in Ty Lawson to challenge him all year.

7. Jordan Farmar, Los Angeles Lakers PG

2013-14 Salary: $884,293
Total Deal: 1 year, $884,293 (through 2014)

Six-year pro Jordan Farmar is a top-tier backup point guard, and he's making less than a million in 2013-14.

He's living proof that it's not always about the money, as he left millions on the table in Turkey to return stateside and don the purple and gold.

Farmar clearly cherishes the opportunity to play for the Los Angeles Lakers, and he knows it's a privilege to work alongside Kobe Bryant and pursue a championship.

For L.A., it's a great signing because it's a low-risk financial move. Farmar could bolster the backcourt and give it playoff-caliber depth.

Don't forget that Farmar's Lakers' experience includes back-to-back championships, something only a couple other players on the roster have achieved.

6. Darren Collison, Los Angeles Clippers PG

2013-14 Salary: $1.9 million
Total Deal: 2 years, $3.9 million (through 2015)

Darren Collison's year with the Dallas Mavericks wasn't a memorable one, as his role and level of contribution fluctuated throughout the season.

Consequently, the Los Angeles Clippers were able to land him for a practical sum and add him to their ultra-deep squad.

A mid-career contract totaling less than $4 million is probably not what Collison envisioned for himself a couple years ago, but his status has been relegated to backup. L.A. is more than happy to acquire him at such a price, because the roster was already a tight squeeze financially.

If he can post a 16-plus PER while dishing three to five assists off the bench, the Clippers will be highly satisfied with the acquisition.

5. Andray Blatche, Brooklyn Nets PF

2013-14 Salary: $1.4 million
Total Deal: 2 years, $2.8 million (through 2015)

Brooklyn turned out to be a terrific spot for Andray Blatche to resurrect his much-maligned career.

The Nets power forward posted career-best marks in points-per-minute, field-goal percentage and PER, as well as his second-highest clip in rebounds-per-minute. He used his fluid skills and polished jumper to outmaneuver big men, and he used his 6'11" frame to overpower any undersized opponents.

On a roster filled with exorbitant contracts, Blatche's is a breath of fresh air. There are very few players in the league with his combination of size and talent, and almost all of them are paid more than he is.

Blatche readily agreed to a low-scale deal because he's still getting a boatload of cash from the Washington Wizards, but it's nonetheless a great contract for the Nets..

4. Ray Allen, Miami Heat SG

2013-14 Salary: $3.2 million
Total Deal: 2 years, $6.3 million (through 2014)

Even before his heroic game-tying shot in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals, Ray Allen's deal with the Miami Heat was a sweet one.

Erik Spoelstra got a future Hall of Famer to come off the bench and score double-digits on 42 percent from distance. The best part? He signed in 2012 for roughly half of what the Boston Celtics offered him.

Allen's best days are long gone, and no one expects him to score more than 10-12 per game in 2013-14. It's his value as a timely shooter and compatible offensive collaborator that make him such a steal at $3 million.

If you still aren't sold on his worth as a 38-year-old veteran, let's remember what he did to the Spurs just a couple months ago.

3. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics PG

2013-14 Salary: $12 million
Total Deal: 5 years, $55 million (through 2015)

Despite Rajon Rondo's midseason ACL injury, the Boston Celtics have one of the best contracts in the league with their star point guard.

The best dime-dropper in the game is one of its most unique assets because his salary is roughly 30-40 percent below what his realistic market value is.

There is no one in the NBA right now who can run an offense like Rondo, as his inventiveness and laser-precision passing are unmatched. Don't forget that he rebounds extremely well for his position and is also an accomplished pickpocket on the perimeter.

Will his relatively modest contract result in a trade, or will the Celtics decide to keep his affordable contract in town?

2. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs PG

2013-14 Salary: $12.5 million
Total Deal: 4 years, $50 million (through 2015)

Although he collects more cash than anyone on his team, San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker has an extremely reasonable deal.

Calling him elite is an understatement, because he can knife through defenses unlike any other point man, and he always presents a two-edged attack of scoring and distributing.

Dozens upon dozens of NBA players are paid more than him, but there are only about five stars who are definitively better than him.

Parker has led the Spurs train to four Finals appearances and three league crowns, and he's still 31 years old with several high-level seasons left in him.

It wouldn't be the Spurs' way if he didn't own an economically-sound contact.

1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors G

2013-14 Salary: $9.9 million
Total Deal: 4 year, $44 million extension (through 2017)

Stephen Curry is the fourth-highest paid player on the Golden State Warriors, and he's not on his rookie-scale deal.

Let that sink in for a minute.

The elusive sharpshooter went from borderline All-Star to national superstar in a hurry, and his playmaking skills are matched only by the absolute best in the game.

He is the best all-around shooter in the game, and he's much more than a shooting specialist. That in itself makes his contract well worth it.

With 22.9 points and 6.9 assists per game on 45 percent shooting from distance, Curry is putting up max-deal numbers. Yet his yearly salary isn't among the 30 highest in the league. 

Four years and $44 million is a lot of money for someone with ankle issues. But if the 2013 playoffs are any indication of Golden State's trajectory, Curry and Co. will be one of the primary contenders in the Western Conference for years. 

Follow Dan O'Brien: @DanielO_BR