In the fiercely competitive NBA, the player salary distribution is like a pyramid, the so-called "capable people work more", the stars at the top of the tower control more than 70% of the team's salary, which is most evident in the giant teams:
(1) Lakers, the total salary of the team is 154.7 million US dollars, and the salary of The three people of Westbrook + James + Davis is 120.8 million US dollars, accounting for 78.1%.
(2) The Nets, the total salary of the team is 171.9 million US dollars, and the salary of Irving + Durant + Harden is 122 million US dollars, accounting for 70.7%.
(3) Warriors, the total salary of the team is $175.9 million, and the salary of Curry + Thompson + Wiggins + Green is $139.4 million, accounting for 79.2%.
As the façade of a team, the high salary of the star is not only because of the outstanding strength on the field, but also the commercial value brought by the fan base behind it is also an aspect of management considerations. The low salary of role players does not mean that they have a poor performance, age, injury, exposure will affect the size of the salary contract, like Anthony, Aldridge and other basic salary veterans, still shine in the field.
Take stock of seven stars who played well in the year of playing with a base salary contract:
7. Little Otto Potter high-quality 3D player
In the summer of 2013, Otto Porter Jr. averaged 16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game in his sophomore season, 42% of his three-point shooting rate, and won the praise of scouts for his excellent outside shooting and defensive awareness, and was finally selected by the Wizards with the Probing Sign. Otto Porter Jr., because of his resemblance to former NBA star Neville Chamberlain, was also jokingly called "the man who is about to save Washington" by the home team at the time.
Entering the league with the title of Tanhua Show, Otto Porter did not get the ball from a high-ranking player, and his poor ball-holding ability allowed him to sit on the bench for two seasons. It wasn't until the 15-16 season that the Wizards, who had no one to use in the front, entrusted the player who was surprised by the college years to the heavy responsibility, and At this time, Porter also found his own position, that is, the most popular 3D player in the small-ball era.
In the 16-17 season, the last year of Otto Porter Jr.'s rookie contract, he averaged 13.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, shooting 43.4% from three-point range, and his steady outside shooting made him popular with many teams in the free market. Among them, the Brooklyn Nets offered Otto Porter a four-year offer of $106 million, and the Wizards were reluctant to let it go and finally chose to match.
In the following season and a half, Otto Porter Jr. still maintained the level of averaging 14.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, shooting more than 40% of the three-point shooting rate, but wizards management believed that his performance did not match the annual salary of $25 million, so in February 2019, the Wizards made a deal with the Bulls: Otto Porter Jr. traded the Bulls for Portis, Jabari Parker and a 2023 second-round pick.
In the following season, Porter achieved a brief glory with the Bulls (averaging 17.5 + 5.5 per game), but as his form declined, he was gradually marginalized by the team, and was sent to the reconstructed Magic team as a trading chip at the end of last season, becoming a dispensable "transparent man" in the team.
In the offseason last year, the Warriors, who had limited salary space, recruited in the free market by "charm", in order to make up for Thompson's vacancy, Otto Porter jr., who was depressed at this time, became the team's first choice, in order to control the amount of the team's luxury tax, Porter only got a base salary contract.
So far this season, Otto Porter Jr. has averaged 8.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game, shooting 40.3% from three-point range, making him the most stable outside shooter on the team. On the defensive end, Porter is also stingy with physical strength, and his current defensive efficiency on the court is 99.8, ranking 9th in the league, which is definitely a low-key but high-quality 3D player. It is believed that after this season, Otto Porter Jr.'s annual salary will rise to tens of millions of dollars.
6. Bradley The Lakers defend the gates on the outside
In the 2010 draft, Bradley, who was 1.91 meters tall and had an arm span of 2.01 meters, was selected by the Celtics with the 19th pick in the first round, and his innate defensive awareness allowed him to be reused early in the Celtics who focused on overall defense. In the final year of his rookie contract, Bradley managed to secure a four-year, $32 million contract extension with an average of 14.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.
In the 16-17 season, Bradley ushered in the peak of his career, averaging 16.3 points and 6.1 rebounds in 55 games for the Green Army, helping the team to a record of 53 wins and 29 losses, and locked in the first place in the East.
But the excellent play did not impress the Celtic management, and in order to avoid Bradley's higher-paying contract extension, the Green Army decisively traded him to the Detroit Pistons in the summer of 2017. At this point, Bradley began his wandering journey, pistons, Clippers, Grizzlies, Lakers, Rockets, Heat, in just four seasons to change 6 teams, the golden oil type of player has always been difficult to find a foothold.
It is worth mentioning that after Bradley was cut by the Grizzlies in the summer of 2019, the Los Angeles Lakers recruited him with $9.7 million for two years. Throughout the 19-20 season, Bradley's performance with the Lakers was remarkable, and he has been trusted by head coach Vogel with his good individual defensive ability.
However, after the NBA suspension due to the epidemic, Bradley refused to play in the rematch and playoffs for the Lakers due to family reasons, and chose to refuse to fulfill his team option after the Lakers won the championship, and then his Lakers career came to an abrupt end.
In the summer of 2020, the Heat signed it for $11.6 million for two years, and then sent it to the Rockets in a deal over Oladipo, where the Rockets officially announced last summer that they would not carry out Bradley's team option, and bradley, who was only 31 years old, was once again called by the Lakers.
So far this season, Bradley has averaged 7.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game, shooting 39 percent from three-point range, making him the most accurate shooter in the Lakers after Munch. On his defensive end, Bradley's excellent defensive awareness became the last fig leaf of the entire Lakers guard line, and the offensive and defensive play was worth a $5 million annual contract.
5. Whiteside Inner Line "Behemoth"
Speaking of Whiteside, I believe that many old fans of Jiangsu Tongxi team remember him deeply, and in the 2013-14 NBL (National Men's Basketball League) game, Whiteside helped Tongxi team reach the NBL finals as a big foreign aid.
Note: Compared with the CBA League, the NBL League pays more attention to China's urbanization process and strives to build its own basketball brand for a city.
In the 2010 draft, Whiteside, who was 2.13 meters tall and had an arm span of 2.31 meters, was not selected by the Kings until the third pick in the second round due to the shortcomings of the internal self-attack ability and slow traverse speed. In the first two seasons of his rookie, Whiteside played in a total of 19 games for the team, averaging only 1.5 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, and then was ruthlessly cut and began a low league trip.
Among them, in the 2013-14 season, Whiteside chose to join the Jiangsu Tongxi team of the NBL at that time, played 17 games for the team, averaged 29.6 points, 16.4 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game, and led the team to the finals. Subsequently, Wildside was signed by the Heat to return to the NBA on a two-year pay contract, and his excellent interior defensive ability was discovered, and the average per game quickly reached a double-double, while winning two blocks in Miami.
In the summer of 2016, the Heat signed a four-year, $98 million contract extension with Whiteside, and in the next two seasons, the Heat's performance did not meet management expectations, and Whiteside gradually became "blind" on the court. In the 2019 offseason, the Heat chose to send the block king to the Blazers in a four-way deal.
Coming to Portland, Hassan Whiteside played the best statistics of his career, averaging 15.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game, just looking at the data is definitely the top center in the league. But in today's small-ball era, the inability of inside players to rotate to the outside defense is a fatal shortcoming, and Whiteside's footsteps on the defensive end are like lead, which was abandoned early in the playoffs, and was instantly reduced from a tens of millions of annual salary stars to a base salary player.
Last offseason, the Utah Jazz signed Whiteside to strengthen the depth of the interior lineup, and this season he can get 8.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 18.9 minutes of playing time, which has won a lot of rest time for Gobert. To the surprise of fans, Whiteside has now voluntarily accepted the role player status, and the solid blocking and rebounding in the frontcourt give him a chance to get a mini mid-class contract next summer.
4. Stephenson Angels and devils switch freely
Two words sum up Stevenson's career: "Maverick" and "Wandering."
In the 13-14 season, the Heat met george-led Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, the two sides were 4th, the Miami Heat led 3:1, Stephenson decided to defend James in the life and death game, in order to interfere with the latter's play, Finson used a variety of small actions, the most classic of which is the blowing defense.
In the face of this alternative defensive style, James played very painfully in this game, only 10 shots in the game to get 7 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists, and the Pacers pulled back a set under George's 37 points, but the Heat still had a thrilling 4-2 victory over the Pacers.
After blowing up the defense against James, Stephenson made a name for himself in the free agency market, earning the Hornets a three-year, $27.5 million contract and a second-round pick (tenth pick in the second round in 2010). But it was also from this time that Stephenson embarked on a six-season journey to change 10 teams, and his immature personality made him like the "Euro Swifts" and never landed safely.
At the beginning of the season, the league's teams suffered from different degrees of injuries and suspensions due to the epidemic, Indiana Pacers main TJ Warren, McConaughey, Brogdon successive injuries disrupted the team deployment, in order to meet the needs of the game, the team signed Stephenson with a 10-day contract.
Back in the familiar arena, the 31-year-old Stephenson is extremely excited on the court, currently averaging 9.7 points, 3 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, and has also scored 30 points against the Nets, and the familiar "playing guitar" celebration action has once again ignited the bankers' life arena.
Stephenson's continued contributions to highlights have led team management to consider extending his contract until the end of the season, as long as the NBA "comedian" can restrain his personality, with his current offensive status and overall view, it is not difficult to get a contract with an annual salary of $5 million.
3. Dedmond Inner tough guy
In the 2013 draft, with a height of 2.13 meters and an arm span of 2.24 meters, Dedmond, who had rough interior skills and no long-range shooting ability, was unsurprisingly a lost draft. In order to be able to enter the NBA league, the big man began playing in preseason games, accepting a short 10-day contract, playing a total of 31 games on three teams in his rookie's first season, and his humble character won the recognition of Magic management and received a two-year non-guaranteed contract.
In the summer of 2016, Dedmond ushered in a career turning point, and after his contract with the Magic expired, he was signed by the San Antonio Spurs for two years of $5.93 million, including a player option for the 17-18 season. Under the tutelage of a generation of famous coach Popovich, Dedmund began to show his strength on the inside, averaging 5.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, dark skin and tough playing style, making him an iconic figure for the Spurs in the 16-17 season.
After the Spurs were gilded, Dedmond's value began to rise, and the Atlanta Hawks offered him a two-year salary contract of $12.3 million, which transformed Dedmond from a losing draft to a main center for an NBA team. In two seasons with the Hawks, Dedmund contributed 10.5 points and 7.7 rebounds in 25 minutes of playing time, reaching the peak of his career.
In the summer of 2019, the Kings announced a three-year, $41 million contract to sign Dedmund, but the good times were short-lived, and after half a season of running-in, the Kings management found that the center's characteristics did not meet the team's rebuilding requirements, and immediately sent him to the Pistons. The Pistons, who are in the process of rebuilding, also did not put Dedmund on the rebuilding list, and after consultation between the two sides, the latter chose to sacrifice a part of his salary to complete the buyout with the team.
Dedmond, who became a free agent, was signed by the Heat in the summer of 2020, but then suffered an injury, playing only 16 games in an entire season. Last offseason, the Heat announced a contract extension with the 32-year-old center, who has averaged 6.7 points and 6.2 rebounds so far this season, becoming the defensive core of the bench. Dedmund's defensive efficiency on the floor this season is 105, 55th in the league, and as long as he can guarantee his health, it is not a dream to get a mini-middle-class contract.
2. Biyongbo is a center who is favored by God
In 2011, Biyombo from the Congo of Africa entered the NBA draft, and his 2.03-meter height, exaggerated arm span of 2.29 meters, coupled with excellent speed, allowed him to be selected by the Kings with the ninth pick in the first round, and then sent to the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Hornets). In the first four seasons of his career, Biyombo, who had no independent offensive ability, sat on the bench, averaging only 4.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, with no bright spots to speak of.
After the rookie contract ended, the dynamic short center was signed by the Raptors at the end of the year, and the 15-16 season ushered in a career turning point for Yongbo. This season, the Raptors and cavaliers division Eastern Conference Finals, in the third game of the series, the Raptors finally defeated the Cavaliers 99-84, and cut 7 points, 26 rebounds and 4 blocks, LeFu and TT Thompson became the background emperor. It was this phenomenal play that gave him a four-year, $72 million salary contract from magic.
After signing a big contract, Biyongbo returned to the rookie season on the field, without the ability to hold the ball, did not have the scoring technique of low-back play, and scored all by "eating cake" and rebounding in the front court, gradually becoming a marginal figure of the team. Last offseason, Billy Byombo's contract expired, and he didn't get a salary offer on the free trade market, officially becoming an unemployed player.
The Suns, last season's Western Conference dark horse, this season's goal is to lift the O'Brien Cup, but the team's center Ayton suffered an ankle injury, and the team signed Biyombo on a ten-day contract in order to maintain the depth of the interior lineup.
With Paul's help, the short center is seamless with the team and currently plays for the team in ten games, averaging 10.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, including 3.1 frontcourt rebounds per game, and the firepower he provides on the court has helped the Suns win 9 in the last 10 games, successfully surpassing the Warriors to take the first place in the league.
In the last five games, Billy Byombo has averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds per game, shooting a terrifying 73.4% from the field, and the excellent performance has made the Suns management choose to renew his contract until the end of the season. If he can continue this state to the end of the season, only look at the average data per game and the efficiency of attack and defense, he is worthy of an annual salary of tens of millions of dollars than Yongbo.
1. Malik Munch The most underrated point guard
Looking back on Munch's basketball career, he can be called a young fame, averaging 28.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game in his senior season, and in the summer of 2016, he was admitted to the university of Kentucky, a basketball school, on a full scholarship. Throughout his freshman season, Munch averaged 19.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, and his explosive physical fitness and soft shooting feel earned him the title of "microwave oven".
With outstanding college performances, Munch was selected by the Hornets with the 11th pick in the first round of the 2017 draft, and he only started for the team once in four years as a rookie, playing the rest of the time as a backup point guard. Last season was the final year of Munch's rookie contract, and he averaged 11.7 points per game, including a three-point shooting rate of 40.1%, but the not mediocre play did not get a contract extension from the home team due to the presence of Lamello Ball and Rozier.
At this time, the Lakers have formed a "sunset red" lineup, in order to enhance the vitality of the team, with a basic salary to sign the Hornets depressed Munch, it is this seemingly unintentional willow operation, has become the only bright spot in the Lakers general manager Pelinka last offseason.
So far this season, Munch has averaged 12.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, a three-point shooting rate of 41%, and can hit 2.2 three-pointers per game, and his mid- and long-range shooting rate has also become a barometer of the Lakers' current victories.
In addition, Munch is currently playing with an offensive efficiency of 111.9, which is higher than the core of the team, James, ranking first in the team. In the case of Westbrook's poor offensive end, Munch has undoubtedly become the team's most trusted three-point shooter and tackler, and under the exposure of the Lakers' traffic, Munch's current value has risen to tens of millions of dollars.