NBA Power Rankings: Derrick Rose and the Most Underpaid Player on Each Team
If Derrick Rose isn't at the top of the MVP list, he's near the top of it for virtually everyone with a vote. If he were to win it this year, he'd be the cheapest MVP since the Utah Jazz' Karl Malone won it in 1997, 13 years ago.
Needless to say salaries have climbed a bit since then. Needless to say, making a meager 5.54 million dollars (how's a guy supposed to live!?) Rose is actually a bargain by today's standards. I'm guessing that while he's a bit underpaid now, once Rose finishes out his rookie contract, he'll be getting a little more in his bank account though.
Following is the team by team break down of the best bargain, or most underpaid player, on every NBA team, depending on how you want to look at it. I've excluded players whose contributions while cheap, would be fairly replaceable at a similar price though.
Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford
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Al Horford is delivering 16 points, 10 rebounds and stellar defense playing out of position. He's also on his playing in his second All-Star game this weekend. That's worth the 5.44 million the Hawks are paying him for his services this year don't you think? Horford is the 130th highest paid player in the NBA.
Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo
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Let's play a little game of "who does not belong in this picture?" Andris Bierdins, Kirk Hinrich, Jose Calderon, Boris Diaw, and Rajon Rondo? Want to know what all five have in common? They have the same size paycheck. Now you might have a different opinion, but mine is that Rondo is worth just a tad more than the other guys. Rondo's 9 million has him tied for the 68th highest paid player in the NBA.
Charlotte Bobcats: D.J. Augustin
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D.J. Augustine's 5.1 Win Shares leads the Bobcats, and his play has been key to their Paul Silas era resurgence. He's averaging over 14 points and six dimes a game. That's a pretty good return on the 2.2 million dollars they're forking out for him don't you think? Augustin is the 224th highest paid player in the NBA.
Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose
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As mentioned on the first slide, with the 126th highest salary in the NBA, Derrick Rose is their most underpaid player. The Bulls have a knack for bargain shopping though, whether it be through gaining salaries on the cheap through the draft or free agency. They have the lowest payroll of any team with a winning record. It's why they are well set to adjust to whatever the new collective bargaining agreement brings.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Ramon Sessions
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Of late Ramon Sessions has been getting some serious trade talk. His February splits point to why as he's been averaging 20 points and 9 assists for the month. It does make you wonder why Cleveland would be looking trade him, especially considering less than bulky 3.96 million dollar salary which has him as the 196th highest paid player in the league.
Dallas Mavericks: Jason Kidd
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Jason Kidd is a Hall of Fame player. The complete list of players that has more career assists than him is one name, John Stockton. With just 11 more steals he'll move to third all time on that list. He's also thirds all time in three pointers. So when you think that eight assists and eight points per game is worth the 8.5 million he's making, keep in mind that it's not just the production, it's experience and leadership he provides that make him underpaid. Kidd might be the 75th highest paid player in the league but you'd be hard pressed to find 74 who are more important to their teams.
Denver Nuggets: Aaron Afflalo
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He's averaging about 13 points a game and his PER is 15.8, which should make him an above average player since 15.0 is average. He's also considered to be a key component to the pending post Anthony era. Considering he's making just under two million a year, that's not a bad deal. When you factor in that 257 players in the NBA make more than him, that's a downright steal.
Detroit Pistons: Tracy McGrady
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As a starter with the Pistons Tracy McGrady has not only learned a new position, he's done a pretty darned good job of it. Playing the point he's been averaging 12 points, five assists and four rebounds per game. When you add in that he's making 1.35 million per game, that's just flat underpaid. In fact, 292 players make more cash than the T-Mac.
Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry
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Averaging 18.4 points, 6.4 dishes and an NBA high 94.1 percent from the charity stripe, Steph Curry is only in his second season, and playing on a second season contract. At only 2.9 million dollars, he's the 212th highest paid player in the league. He's wroth that just based on his free throw shooting!
Houston Rockets: Luis Scola
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Luis Scola has never missed a game with the Rockets since he started playing in 2007. His 302 straight games is the best of any player over that frame. The fact he's averaging 19.2 points and 8.4 boards this year makes that even more important. When you figure the injury problems that Houston has though, stability alone makes him worth his 7.75 million dollar check. He's only the 83rd best paid player, and better than that.
Indianapolis Pacers: Darren Collison
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Darren Collison filled in admirably well when Chris Paul went down last season. So well in fact, that the Hornets responded by trading him during the offseason. Now he's averaging 13 points and five assists for the Pacers. He's doing so making less than 289 other NBA players.
Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin
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Blake Griffin's rookie season has been phenomenal, and arguably one of the top rookie seasons in the game's history. He's averaging 38.9 total stats so far this year, which puts him at third best in the NBA. He's seventh in the league in efficiency. He's making 5.54 million though and that has him as the 131st highest paid player.
Los Angles Lakers:
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If there's a team in the NBA that can't be accused of short changing their players, it's the Lakers, who have the highest payroll in the NBA. Kobe all by his lonesome is making 25 million. If there is a guy who is underpaid though, it might be Lamar Odom. He's 25th in the NBA in efficiency, with 15 points, 9 boards and 3 dimes a game. He's 80 in the NBA in terms of pay though.
Memphis Grizzlies: Marc Gasol
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Marc Gasol showed signs of big improvement last season, but he's maybe taken a bit of a step back this one. Still, his 12 points and seven boards a game are pretty respectable. Not quite up to his big brother's standards, but he's giving more bang for the buck than Pau. Marc's only making 3.5 million a year. He's the 189th highest paid player in the NBA but better than that.
Miami Heat: LeBron James
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Last night's triple double in the All-Star game, the second one its history, is an example of why LeBron James is the best player in the NBA. He does everything well, and could probably play any position, at least for a time. Whether you agree that he's the best or not, I'm pretty sure you'd agree he's in the top 20, but in terms of pay 21 make more than he does. He really did take less money to take his talents to South Beach.
Milwaukee Bucks
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Jennings is averaging 15 points, five assists and three rebounds this season. He's the second most productive player on the team, and along with Andrew Bogut, the future of it. Bogut is making 11 million this year, Jennings 2.3 million. Just a smidgen of difference there. There are 232 players in the NBA that make more money than Jennings.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Love
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Kevin Love has a chance of breaking the modern double-double record held by Moses Malone. He's got the first 30 rebound 30 point performance since Malone's already this season. He's sure braking records, but he's not breaking the back. In spite of leading the NBA in total stats, he's only 185th in pay with 3.6 million.
New Jersey Nets: Brook Lopez
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Brook Lopez brings the Nets a whisker under 20 points and 7 rebounds a night. He's the one guy who seems to be off limits in any trade talks with Denver about Carmelo Anthony. He's making only 2.4 million this year, and that's probably part of the reason. That's pretty good production for the price tag. In fact, Lopez is only the 229th highest paid player on the list.
New Orleans Hornets: David West
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The New Orleans Hornets this year could be losing one of the greatest players in the Franchise's history, and I don't mean Chris Paul. David West, who is second all time in club history in both scoring and rebounding may opt out of the final year of his contract and sell his services elsewhere. He's been giving close to 20 points and 8 rebounds a year for the last five years, and not too many players in the NBA can say that. Such services are below market value at West's 8.3 million dollar tag. That puts him as the 89th highest paid player in the league.
New York Knicks: Landry Fields
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Fields, is far and away the lowest paid player on this list. The surprising rookie is scoring 10 points and grabbing seven boards a game to go with three assists. He's doing so for the very economical price of 473,000 dollars. No wonder the Nuggets want him! Fields is making the NBA minimum, so literally no one who has been with the team the full season is making less cash than Fields.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Russell Westbrook
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Russell Westborok also played in his first All Star game this year, and deservedly so. He's 15th in the NBA in efficiency. He's averaging 22.2 points, 8.2 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game. That's production! He's doing so at the low, low price of only 4 million dollars! The Thunder have a lot of bargain players, but he might be the best of them all. He's the 165th highest paid player. Next to love he was the cheapest All-Star participant.
Orlando Magic: Ryan Anderson
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Sometimes you need a little "rough" to find the "diamond." That's what the Magic have done with Ryan Anderson. After trading away Marcin Gortat and seeing Brandon Bass go down with injury, Ryan Anderson really emerged. He's been averaging almost 14 points and over six rebounds since the calendar changed, and he's done so making only 1.4 million dollars. There are 285 players in the league making more.
Philadelphia 76ers: Jrue Holiday
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Rounded off, Holliday is averaging 14 points, six assists and four boards a game. That might not be in the elite point guard area, but it certainly squarely fits him in with the average. His paycheck is a lot less than average though, at only 1.6 million a year. I don't know if he gets Holiday pay though. Jrue is the 273rd highest paid player in the NBA.
Phoenix Suns: Grant Hill
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Most of the players on here are somewhat due to limitations by rookie contracts and the like. Grant Hill is a veteran, and one with significant All Star history. Due to a history of ankle problems, his value fell and Hill redefined himself as a valuable roll player. This year he's averaging 14 points and 4 rebounds a game, to go with a solid defensive performance and his leadership. He offers this at only 3.3 million dollars a year, making him the 193rd highest paid player in the league.
Portland Trail Blazers: Nicholas Batum
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Batum offers 12 points, five boards and two dimes a game. He also offers an injury free season, which in Portland is a commodity all by itself. He's making 1.2 per year. That makes the Trail Blazer the 316th highest paid player in the league. If he can just not get injured he should get a bonus for that alone.
Sacramento Kings: Tyreke Evans
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The reigning Rookie of the Year is making 3.9 million dollars. He's averaging 18 points and 6 assists a game. The Kings are considering relocating again, and possibly being the third team to join the So Cal party. Maybe if they go there Evans can get some notoriety. Griffin's ROY run seems to be promising him more endorsement deals than Evans has garnered in Sacramento. Evans is the 136th best paid player in the league.
San Antonio Spurs: DeJuan Blair
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DeJuan Blair is both literally and figuratively a "big' reason the Spurs own the best record in the NBA. He's started every game and the "265 pound" brings more than just his 8.5 points and 7.4 rebounds, he brings an extended route to the rim. Imagine what he could do with two ACLs! Blair is the 344th highest aid player at 918 grand.
Toronto Raptors: DeMar DeRozan
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He's averaging 16 points and four boards a game. No wonder the Raptors rebuffed trade talks with the Bulls over him. He's coming into his own, and that bodes well to the Boshless team in need of a new star. DeRozan might fit that bill. At 2.5 million he's the 228th highest paid player in the league.
Utah Jazz: Paul Millsap
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He's in the first year of his new deal, but even at 6.2 million he's a bargain. Millsap is averaging 17 points and eight rebounds a game for the Jazz, pretty close to the production offered by the Jazz newly acquired center, Al Jefferson, who makes more than twice as much. He is the 112th highest paid NBA player.
Washington Wizards: JaVale McGee
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Just my personal opinion, between the three ball dunk and the double slam, McGee should have won the dunk contest. If you take away the car and make the exact same dunk, Griffin's dunk isn't nearly as impressive. But oh well, what are you going to do. McGee makes dunks, scores 9 points and grabs 7.5 boards a game for the paltry sum of 1.6 million dollars. He's the 274th highest paid player in the NBA and the final player on the list.
