10 Next Athletes to Get $100 Million-Plus Contracts
Stephen Curry has been one of the NBA's most underpaid players for the last couple of years, but not to worry. He'll get his.
And he's not the only one.
Several current or impending free agents across sports stand to break into the nine-figure contract club in the near future. In fact, with the exception of Bryce Harper, it could happen for every one of the following athletes within a year. (By the way, this excludes folks like LeBron James who already have a $100 million deal under their belts.)
The NBA's increased salary cap catalyzed several deals worth $100 million or more in 2016, and that cap is going up again in 2017. Meanwhile, baseball has no cap to speak of, and even the NFL has doled out a couple of mega-contracts lately.
Who is about to get paid? Find out.
Bryce Harper
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OK—this one will take a few years, but it could be so monumental, it's got to be mentioned.
It's no secret Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is expected to fetch big-time (probably historic) money when he hits the free-agent market after the 2018 MLB season.
Harper—who has a National League Rookie of the Year and MVP under his belt at just 24 years of age—could potentially command a record $400 million deal, per Maury Brown of Forbes.
In May, Mike Axisa of CBS Sports wrote, "Given the way salaries are inflating these days, I wouldn't be surprised if we're talking about a $500 million contract when the time comes. Whatever you're thinking it'll take to sign Harper is probably too low."
Harper himself told 106.7 The Fan radio (via Ryan Hatch of NJ.com), "Yeah, I mean I don't really think about that stuff. I just try to play the years out and do everything I can to help my team win. But don't sell me short."
Stephen Curry
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The 2016-17 NBA salary cap increase resulted in some mega-contracts. For instance, the Washington Wizards signed guard Bradley Beal to a five-year, $128 million deal, and the Toronto Raptors hung on to guard DeMar DeRozan for five years and $145 million.
And guess what? The cap is going to increase again for the 2017-18 season, which means more guys are going to get paid. That $100 million mark is not only attainable, but it could also be the new norm for the league's elite (or not quite elite).
Let's start with reigning MVP Stephen Curry. The Golden State Warriors guard is currently playing under a four-year, $44 million contract but will become a free agent after the 2016-17 season.
It can't be easy to hand out nine-figure contracts and keep a superteam together. Still, in September, ESPN's Marc Stein estimated Curry's new deal could be worth five years and $165 million.
Yoenis Cespedes
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MLB outfielder Yoenis Cespedes signed a three-year, $75 million extension with the New York Mets after testing the free-agency waters in the 2015 offseason. One year later, he has opted out and will again see what he can get on the open market.
Cespedes—who hit .280/.354/.530 with 31 home runs in 2016—might not be the nine-figure lock that, say, Bryce Harper is, but he could get there.
Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News wrote, "The Cuban slugger had been expected to make this move to try and seek a multi-year deal worth over $100 million ever since he re-signed with the Mets last January."
And Bleacher Report's Jacob Shafer offered, "Cespedes will be arguably the shiniest prize of the offseason. He'll incite a bidding war. And he may just get the $150 million he was reportedly seeking last winter, per Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe."
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Gordon Hayward
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The Utah Jazz matched a four-year, $63 million offer sheet from the Charlotte Hornets in 2014 to retain forward Gordon Hayward.
Since then, Hayward has proved himself to be a valuable team member—19.7 points and five rebounds per game in 2015-16—but he can opt out and test free agency after 2016-17.
In October, ESPN's Zach Lowe wrote, "Hayward is 26, in the meat of his prime, killing it at the thinnest position in the league. Utah waited for Charlotte to max him out last time around, and Hayward has a long memory."
According to Lowe, the Boston Celtics (led by Hayward's former college coach Brad Stevens) have "real interest in Hayward, per several league sources," and could likely make a max deal work.
Aroldis Chapman (!?)
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In early November, Dayn Perry of CBS Sports asked, "Is this the year of the $100 million reliever?"
MLB fans might laugh at the prospect of a relief pitcher fetching a nine-figure deal (given the current record is $50 million for Jonathan Papelbon in 2011), but consider this.
Relievers took center stage during the 2016 postseason—Andrew Miller for the Cleveland Indians, Aroldis Chapman for the Chicago Cubs and Kenley Jansen for the Los Angeles Dodgers. And, the free-agent market for starters is pretty meh.
Chapman and Jansen are both free agents and expected to garner significant interest. Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams and Jeff Todd of MLB Trade Rumors predicted Chapman would earn a $90 million payday.
Perry wrote, "Chapman is the other $100 million threat. He's the most dominant reliever in the game today, and he's probably the hardest-throwing pitcher in baseball history."
Blake Griffin
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Blake Griffin's Los Angeles Clippers teammate Chris Paul got himself a five-year, $107 million extension in 2013.
Like Paul, Griffin can opt out to become a free agent after the 2016-17 season. He could also join the nine-figure club if he can use this year with the Clips to prove he's worth it after an injury-shortened 2015-16.
SI.com's Ben Golliver wrote Griffin is "here to reclaim his spot as one of basketball's most feared and most complete players" and added, "And come July, Griffin, like Durant this summer, will get his first crack at unrestricted free agency, when he will have the opportunity to turn down a $21.4 million player option in favor of the recruitment circuit and a new long-term max contract."
Griffin is currently playing under a five-year, $95 million extension he signed in 2012. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic have all been rumored destinations for Griffin.
Derek Carr
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck signed a historic six-year, $140 million deal before the 2016 NFL season. Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller became the highest paid non-QB in league history with his new six-year, $114.5 million deal.
Nine-figure deals are a thing in the NFL, but they are nowhere near as common as they are becoming in the NBA.
That said, it's most likely a QB would fetch the next one. Derek Carr of the Oakland Raiders is performing well enough in 2016—66.1 percent passing with 2,505 yards and 17 touchdowns through Week 9—to garner MVP consideration.
And, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, "The Raiders are prioritizing a new deal for Carr after this season, and a league source expects that deal 'to be Luck-ish.'"
Kyle Lowry
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Kyle Lowry's Toronto Raptors backcourt teammate DeMar DeRozan just joined the nine-figure club with the 2016-17 NBA free-agent-palooza. Could the 30-year-old point guard be next?
Lowry—who averaged 21.2 points and 6.4 assists per game in 2015-16—has indicated he will opt out of his current deal, passing on a $12 million player option for 2017-18.
Bleacher Report's Dan Favale pointed out, "And with [Oklahoma City Thunder's Russell] Westbrook off the 2017 free-agent market following his extension, he's bound to garner max-contract consideration from teams outside Toronto."
Despite Lowry's plans to opt out, it does appear his preference will be to stay in Toronto. Even so, as The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski pointed out, "As an organization, the Raptors have richly rewarded those responsible for the franchise’s unprecedented success."
Edwin Encarnacion
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After the Toronto Blue Jays' loss in the American League Championship Series, first baseman/designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion became a free agent. He is coming off a 2016 season in which he hit 42 home runs and recorded an impressive 127 RBI.
At 33 years of age, Encarnacion is perhaps a more attractive prospect for teams in need of a bat than former teammate 36-year-old Jose Bautista.
Sportsnet's Shi Davidi wrote, "Industry sources believe Encarnacion is headed for a nine-figure contract or something close, while Bautista's market may be more robust than some expect as teams that miss out on Encarnacion are likely to circle back to him."
Encarnacion's agent, Paul Kinzer, echoed the sentiment and told Rick Westhead of TSN his client will seek a deal in the five-year, $125 million range. TBD on if he'll get it.
Kevin Durant
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If Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams can get a $100 million deal, then 2014 NBA MVP Kevin Durant should get double that.
Durant's situation is a bit complicated since he signed a two-year deal with the Golden State Warriors in June and since he plays on a team with four reigning All-Stars, all of whom deserve high salaries.
That said, Durant can opt out of his deal after the 2016-17 season. According to Jason Patt and Mark Hinog of SB Nation, that would increase Durant's max deal number to about 35 percent of the cap.
Danny Leroux of Sporting News laid out potential scenarios for Durant in the offseason and estimated he could get about $33.55 million in max salary in 2017-18.
Bottom line: The increased salary cap made Durant's move a savvy one. He can opt out after 2016-17 and command even more in max salary. Of course, time will tell what the Warriors can and will do in terms of their other players, but it would not be surprising to see Durant get a nine-figure deal—with the Warriors or elsewhere.
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