Each and every year, NBA teams have given out huge contracts to extend their beloved players or to sign free agents in the market. The numbers are just astounding to fathom as they are getting astronomical each passing year.
Just recently, shooting guard Jaylen Brown signed a five-year $304 million extension with Boston. That’s an insanely crazy number since Brown isn’t considered a tier-one-caliber player. With teams basically handing out insane amounts of money to retain the services of their stars, some are quite justifiable due to the stellar play and projected growth of a player within their contract’s timeframe.
We will list the top 10 best contracts in the league right now. They may not necessarily be the top dogs in their respective franchises, but it has to be considered as a value contract based on their contributions on a nightly basis.
10. Golden State Warriors – Kevon Looney (3 Year/$25 million)
While his numbers won’t stand out when you look at the scoreboard, Looney is a solid big man who plays his role to perfection on a nightly basis for the Golden State Warriors.
Earning around $7.5 million per year, you couldn’t find a much cheaper contract for a starting caliber center playing for a contender in the league.
9. Philadelphia 76ers – Buddy Hield (4 Year/$94 million)
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Hield isn’t an all-star, but he is a deadly presence on the perimeter for the Sixers. He is capable of getting hot and giving his team 20 points on any given night.
The Bahamian native is a coveted asset for many teams around the league because of his shooting prowess. He won’t anchor his team’s offense on most nights, but if they need somebody to get hot to keep the scoreboard close, then Hield is your guy.
8. New Orleans Pelicans – Jonas Valanciunas (2 Year/$30 million)
Valanciunas has been a steady presence for New Orleans the past couple of seasons with the constant absence of Zion Williamson.
The Lithuanian big man is severely underpaid compared to the value he brings to the court. He is a nightly double-double threat. Plus, he developed a three-point stroke recently to make him a scoring threat for the Pelicans.
7. Orlando Magic – Wendell Carter Jr. (4 Years/$50 million)
The Magic got the relatively young center on cheap despite his trajectory to be one of the best serviceable big men this decade.
This is a great contract for the team as Carter Jr. is a double-double threat who meshes well with their future franchise player and reigning Rookie of the Year, Paolo Banchero.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers – Jarrett Allen (5 Year/$100 million)
Allen has one of the best contracts in the league right now in terms of value. The young defensive anchor is actually underpaid due to his outstanding contributions to the young and exciting Cleveland Cavaliers.
Allen has blossomed into an All-star and is slowly becoming one of the most reliable big men in the league today.
5. Sacramento Kings – Domantas Sabonis (4 Year/$74 million)
This is now considered a huge steal and one of the best bargain contracts out there because as we all know right now, Sabonis is one of the best big men in the league. A two-way threat, Sabonis is a basketball savant who could dissect opponents’ plays before they happen.
He was the anchor to Sacramento’s success in the 2022-2023 season and the 2023-2024 season is no different, racking up triple-doubles with ease. Plus, Sabonis and Fox are becoming the best pick-and-roll duos the league has seen in quite a long while.
4. Brooklyn Nets – Mikal Bridges (4 Year/$90 million)
Nobody thought that Bridges was capable of being the main offensive weapon for a team after the Suns traded him to the Nets last season. His current contract is a steal in terms of his trajectory and growth as a player.
He went from being the fourth scoring option with the Suns to being a 26 PPG scorer with Brooklyn to finish the 2022-2023 season. It’s just a small sample but everybody believes he could sustain his offensive onslaught for the foreseeable future.
Bridges is a rare two-way threat that most teams covet each season. In addition, Bridges is just entering his prime years so expect that his next extension will earn him a great chunk of money.
3. New York Knicks – Jalen Brunson (4 Year/$104 million)
Dallas could’ve had him relatively cheap, but Brunson knew his worth and balled out for the Knicks last season. The former National Player of the Year absolutely played out of his mind in his first season with the Knicks and brought back the energy from the Garden after it went missing for years.
New York finally found their point guard for the next several years and it also coincides that Brunson is entering his prime, which excites the passionate fan base further. On a winning note, the Knicks really didn’t have to break the bank with this one.
2. Boston Celtics – Jayson Tatum (5 Year/$163 million)
It’s hard to fathom that Brown will be paid more than Tatum on the Celtics but that reality will happen soon. Tatum simply had one of the best contracts in the league by the time he signed it in 2021.
As an MVP candidate on a yearly basis, it’s safe to say that he is on track for a justified raise after his current contract is up in a few years. He has brought Boston into title contention and is already considered one of the best players in the league.
1. Dallas Mavericks – Luka Doncic (5 Year/$215 million)
It doesn’t matter that the Mavs will pay Doncic more than $40 million per year until 2027. This is simply one of the best contracts in league history due to its value and the caliber of the player they currently have.
Luka is one of the greatest players in this generation and based on his career trajectory, he could realistically become an all-time great by the time he hangs up his sneakers. If he could gather and win some of the most prestigious accolades and awards by the time he’s done, then nobody will question the amount of money he’s earning annually with the Mavs.
