NBA

The NBA’s Biggest Contracts

Basketball Insiders’ salary cap guru Eric Pincus looks at the NBA’s biggest contracts for the 2014-15 season.

Alan Draper profile picture
Sports Editor
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Fourteen teams are already on vacation.  Sixteen will be pared down to eight in a week’s time. Looking ahead to the 2014-15 season, the NBA has projected a salary cap of $63.2 million. A number of players will take up a major portion of their team’s cap.  Some earn their money — others, not so much.

The following is a list of the NBA’s biggest contracts for the coming season:

1 — Kobe Bryant — Los Angeles Lakers — $23.5 million

2 — Amar’e Stoudemire — New York Knicks — $23.4 million

Note: Stoudemire can opt out his contract, but he won’t.  His on court value is not close to his salary.

3 — Carmelo Anthony — New York Knicks — $23.3 million

Note: Anthony will opt out of his contract, to lock in a new long-term deal.

4 — Joe Johnson — Brooklyn Nets — $23.2 million

5 — Dwight Howard — Houston Rockets — $21.4 million

6/7 — LeBron James and Chris Bosh — Miami HEAT — $20.6 million

Note: Both James and Bosh can opt out of their contracts, forgoing their 2014-15 salaries of $22.1 million as well.  It’s unclear if either will do so.

8 — Dwyane Wade — Miami HEAT — $20.2 million

Note: Wade can also opt out, but he’d also give up $21.7 million for the following season.  Given his recent injury concerns, he’s unlikely to hit free agency this summer.

9 — Chris Paul — Los Angeles Clippers — $20.1 million

10 — Deron Williams — Brooklyn Nets — $19.8 million

BONUS — Brandon Roy — formerly with the Portland Trail Blazers — $19.3 million

Note: Roy was amnestied in 2011.

Other players of note include Rudy Gay (Sacramento Kings), who is unlikely to opt out of his $19.3 million and Zach Randolph (Memphis Grizzlies), who is likely to opt out of his final year at $17 million.

The Chicago Bulls may consider using amnesty on Carlos Boozer and his $16.8 million.

Finally, amnestied Gilbert Arenas will finally come off the books of the Orlando Magic.  The 2013-14 season was his last one — a stunning $22.3 million not to play.

Largest Overall Contracts

The Clippers have championship aspirations and two of the four biggest overall contracts in the NBA. Washington’s John Wall has the largest fully-guaranteed deal, with no contract options for the Wizards guard.

1 — Chris Paul — Los Angeles Clippers — four years, $88.7 million

Note: Paul has a player option on his final season at $24.3 million.

2/3 — John Wall — Washington Wizards; Paul George — Indiana Pacers — five years, $78.8 million.

Note: George has a player option on his fifth year at $17.8 million.

4 — Blake Griffin – Los Angeles Clippers — four years, $78.1 million

Note: Griffin can opt out of his fourth season at $21.4 million

5 — Dwight Howard — Houston Rockets — three years, $67.1 million

Note: Howard’s final year is a player option at $23.3 million.

6 — James Harden — Houston Rockets — four years, $65.1 million

Note: Harden’s fourth year at $17.8 million is only half-guaranteed.

7 — Deron Williams — Brooklyn Nets — $63.1 million

Note: Third year is William’s option at $22.3 million

8 — DeMarcus Cousins – Sacramento Kings — four years, $61.0 million

9 — Derrick Rose – Chicago Bulls — three years, $60.3 million

10 — Russell Westbrook — Oklahoma City Thunder — three years, $50.2 million

BONUS — Kobe Bryant — Los Angeles Lakers — two years, $48.5 million.

Note: Bryant’s 11th on the overall list, but over just two seasons.  Joe Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets is a hair behind Bryant over two years at $48.1 million.  In comparison, Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic will make $47.9 million over four years.

Alan is an expert gambling writer who works as one of the chief editors for Basketball Insiders. He has been covering online gambling and sports betting for over 8 years, having written for the likes of Sportlens, Compare.bet, The Sports Daily, 90min, and TopRatedCasinos.co.uk. His particular specialisms include US online casinos and gambling regulations, and soccer and basketball betting. Based in London, Alan holds an MA in English Literature and is a passionate supporter of Chelsea FC.

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