Ranking the 5 Best and 5 Worst-value Contracts from 2024-25 NBA Season
For the 2024-25 season, a standard NBA contract ranged from $1.2 million to Stephen Curry's $55.8 million with the Golden State Warriors. As a legendary star, Curry may mean more to his team (and the league) than how much bang-for-the-buck he brings on the court.
But when evaluating almost everyone else, a player's contract can range from incredibly high to incredibly low value based on their individual production and the team's standing with the regular season coming to a close.
Here, we've assembled a list of the five best-value contracts and five worst-value contracts for 2024-25.
No. 5 Best: Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
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2024-25 salary: $13.0 million
Notable stats: 20.2 points, 5.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game
The Lakers have two clear stars in LeBron James and Luka Donฤiฤ, but the NBA world has gradually taken to saying they have a Big Three with Reaves putting up Most Improved Player-caliber stats. Guarding James and Donฤiฤ presents its own set of issues, but Reaves has flourished alongside the pair, as the second when one misses a game or on his own, dominating teams like the Indiana Pacers on the road.
But how long will Reaves be a discount? The Lakers have him locked in next season at $13.9 million, but he's a lock to decline his $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season to explore free agency in 2026. He'll earn more on his next contract than L.A. can pay in an extension in a summer when several teams project to have significant cap space.
The Lakers may eventually face a bidding war for Reaves, but for now (and next year), he has one of the most team-friendly contracts in the NBA.
No. 4 Best: Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers
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2024-25 salary: $11.7 million
Notable stats: 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks per game
Ivica Zubac was vital to the Clippers' impressive run this season. The 28-year-old has always been one of the steadier centers in the league, but he's given L.A. 20-20 games this year and even his first triple-double this past Wednesday against the Houston Rockets.
James Harden and Kawhi Leonard (when healthy) may have the star power, but Zubac is just as important in anchoring the Clippers' offense and defense.
The Clippers signed Zubac to a three-year, $58.6 million extension in September that runs through 2027-28. With the salary cap projected to climb 10 percent annually over the next few years, Zubac is on a team-friendly number for a starting center on a playoff team.
No. 3 Best: Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
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2024-25 salary: $7.0 million
Notable stats: 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists per game
Wagner likely won't be on this list next year, as his five-year, $224.2 million extension starts at about $38.7 million. The Magic didn't win as many games as expected this year, but injuries to Jalen Suggs, Paolo Banchero and Wagner played a significant role in that.
While some around the NBA questioned Orlando's decision to give Wagner a five-year max, he responded with a career-best season.
Honorable mention goes to Banchero, who earned $12.2 million this season. While his 25.9 points per game were impressive, the 46 games he played diminished what might have otherwise been a top-value contract this season.
No. 2 Best: Alperen ลengรผn (and Amen Thompson), Houston Rockets
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2024-25 salary: $5.4 million
Notable stats: 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists per game
Alperen ลengรผn broke through as an All-Star this season for the Rockets, who returned to prominence after several years in the draft lottery. He was a steal at $5.4 million this season, but that discounted salary won't last.
ลengรผn signed a five-year, $185 million extension right before the rookie-scale deadline in October. He's set to earn $33.9 million next year.
Honorable mention to Amen Thompson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2023. Thompson has been a revelation for Houston as a defender, athlete, scorer and playmaker. He may top this list next year at $9.7 million.
No. 1 Best: Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
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2024-25 salary: $4.8 million
Notable stats: 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists per game
The Thunder are the best overall team in the NBA, led by presumptive Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Jalen Williams, their second option, just turned 24 on April 14.
Williams earned his first All-Star nod this season while giving OKC an ideal pressure-release valve when opponents try to overplay Gilgeous-Alexander with early double-teams.
The Thunder still have him at a discount at $6.6 million next year, which is the final season of his rookie-scale contract. He's extension-eligible this summer and likely expects a max deal.
That will eventually change the calculus for the Thunder, who also may give Chet Holmgren a huge extension. But this dominant version of the Thunder will continue for at least another year without a massive price tag.
No. 5 Worst: Dejounte Murray, New Orleans Pelicans
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2024-25 salary: $29.5 million
Notable stats: 31 games, 17.5 points, 7.4 assists, 6.5 reebounds per game
The Pelicans traded for Dejounte Murray this past offseason in the hopes that he'd push them into deep postseason contention. However, that deal wound up being a disappointment.
Murray fractured his hand in the season opener, then tore his Achilles in late January. The injury may take a year or longer to heal, potentially leaving New Orleans without a starting point guard for much of next season.
Given that Murray's $31.6 million salary next year is projected to be the Pelicans' second-highest behind Zion Williamson, he may also be a low-value investment for 2025-26.
No. 4 Worst: Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks/Washington Wizards
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2024-25 salary: $31 million
Notable stats: 11.9 points, 4.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds (including 23 games with the Milwaukee Bucks)
Khris Middleton was vital to the Bucks' 2021 championship run, but he's struggled to stay healthy in recent years. Milwaukee kept him well-paid, but it gradually realized the time had come to move on. The Bucks eventually moved him to the Wizards before the trade deadline for Kyle Kuzma.
Middleton is a solid vet to have around young players for Washington, but his high salary doesn't match his pedestrian on-court production. He's a lock to pick up his $34.0 million player option for 2025-26.
No. 3 Worst: Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns
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2024-25 salary: $50.2 million
Notable stats: 17.0 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds per game
Compare Beal's production with Austin Reaves on the Los Angeles Lakers. Both are No. 3 options, but Beal is almost four times as expensive as Reaves, and his team didn't make the playoffs this year despite boasting the NBA's highest payroll.
It only gets worse for Phoenix from here. Beal will turn 32 before next season and will be even more expensive at $53.7 million. That's followed by a $57.1 million player option in 2026-27 that he's a virtual lock to pick up.
Price aside, Beal's no-trade clauseโsomething only he and LeBron James can boast in all of the NBAโmakes it far more difficult for Phoenix to relocate him. Beal can nix any deal that might help the team at his discretion.
No. 2 Worst: Joel Embiid (and Paul George), Philadelphia 76ers
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2024-25 salary: $51.4 million
Notable stats: 19 games, 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 44.4 percent shooting
Joel Embiid, who won the 2022-23 MVP award, fell off abruptly because of ongoing knee issues that limited him to only 39 games last year and 19 games this season.
After averaging 34.7 points per game last seasonโmore than one point per minute playedโhe dropped to 23.8 this year. His shooting efficiency also plummeted from 52.9 percent overall last year to 44.4 percent this season.
Given that he still has four years and $248.1 million left on his contract, the Sixers can only hope that he's able to get and stay healthy next season.
Making matters worse, Paul George was the Sixers' marquee free-agent signing on a four-year, $211.6 million contract this past offseason. The former All-Star struggled to stay healthy, playing in 41 games and putting up modest numbers relative to his contract (16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game).
What do the Sixers do next if neither player can return to form?
No. 1 Worst: Ben Simmons (and Bojan Bogdanovic), Brooklyn Nets
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2024-25 salary: $39.3 million
Notable stats: 33 games, 6.2 points, 6.9 assists per contest
Before Ben Simmons took a buyout to join the LA Clippers, he was earning way too much from the lottery-bound Nets.
Brooklyn took on his contract from the Philadelphia 76ers in the James Harden trade understanding that he may not be a productive player. The move was about draft capital and the eventual rebuild. His production at that salary was an eyesore.
Bojan Bogdanoviฤ, who missed the entire season with a foot injury, deserves an honorable mention for Brooklyn. As part of the Mikal Bridges trade with the New York Knicks (which was also about draft picks), the Nets took on the veteran shooter's $19 million salary without getting a single point from him.
Honorable/Dishonorable Mention
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Fortunately, the list of players giving their teams great stats at lower salaries outnumbers the stinkers. One medium-sized salary that stands out negatively is PJ Tucker's $11.5 million dead cap hit on the Toronto Raptors' books.
Tucker and the Los Angeles Clippers agreed to separate before the season. L.A. eventually dealt him to the Utah Jazz with Mo Bamba for Patty Mills and Drew Eubanks. Utah then moved him on to the Toronto Raptors in a multi-team deal that brought in Josh Richardson and KJ Martin. Tucker didn't take the court until the Raptors cut him loose. The veteran forward eventually found a home with the New York Knicks on a minimum deal.
The standout-value contract that could have cracked the top five if the Chicago Bulls (37-43) had managed a better record is Coby White's. The Bulls finished the season exceptionally well and may push through the play-in to earn a playoff berth. White has been sensational, scoring 20.4 points with 4.5 assists per game on a $12 million salary.
Shout-out to Malik Beasley of the Detroit Pistons, who filled a desperately needed skill set on a team returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2019. On a one-year, $6 million deal, Beasley averaged 16.3 points per game while shooting 41.6 percent from three-point range.
Beasley or White could arguably bump others out of the top five.
Email Eric Pincus atย eric.pincus@gmail.comย and follow him on Xย @EricPincusย andย Bluesky.
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