MOST EXPENSIVE BASKETBALL PLAYER
30. Jerryd Bayless, Philadelphia 76ers — $9.4 million
Chris Szagola/AP
Position : Point guard
Contract : 3 years, $27.0 million
One thing to know : Following the divorce from Sam Hinkie, the 76ers decided to spend a little bit of money and bring in a veteran point guard. They turned to Bayless, the former Bucks backup, and now he is the top-paid player on a team in which most of the players are still playing on their rookie contracts.
29. Rudy Gay, Sacramento Kings — $13.3 million
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Position : Small forward
Contract : 3 years, $40 million (Gay can opt out of the contract following the 2016-17 season)
One thing to know : Gay inherited the title of Kings highest-paid player when DeMarcus Cousins was traded to the Pelicans. But the title will be short-lived as he has already informed the Kings that he will opt out of his contract this summer .
28. Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves — $13.4 million
Position : Point guard
Contract : 4 years, $55.0 million
One thing to know : Despite on-going rumors of a potential trade to the Knicks prior to the trade deadline, Rubio remains with the Timberwolves for now. He still has two years left on his contract in which he will make $14.1 million and $14.8 million.
27. Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix Suns — $14.0 million
Position : Point guard
Contract : 5 years, $70 million
One thing to know : Bledsoe is in the third year of his his five-year contract and is on pace to play 70 games for just the third time in six seasons since his rookie year, thanks to multiple knee surgeries.
26. Danilo Gallinari, Denver Nuggets — $15.1 million
Position : Small forward
Contract : 3 years, $45.2 million (Gallinari can opt out of the final year of his contract this summer)
One thing to know : Gallinari was one of the key pieces received from the Knicks in the Carmelo Anthony trade . When he signed his extension in 2015, he said the following about Denver : "I was very fast in saying yes to this extension. I'm very happy to stay in Denver. This extension came because of the people in Denver, the fact that I've been in Denver for awhile now and the fact that I love the city."
25. Gordon Hayward, Utah Jazz — $16.1 million
Position : Small forward
Contract : 4 years, $63.0 million
One thing to know : Hayward is expected to opt out of the final year of his contract this summer, andaccording to Zach Lowe of ESPN , the Jazz are "all-in" to keep Hayward, but also noted that they need to clear some salaries from their payroll.
24. Bismack Biyombo (left) and Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic — $17.0 million
Position : Power forward (Biyombo) and shooting guard (Fournier)
Contract : 4 years, $72.0 million (Biyombo) and 5 years, $85.0 million (Fournier)
One thing to know : The Magic have ten players under contract for the 2017-18 season and nine players for the 2018-19 season, if all options are exercised.
23. Greg Monroe, Milwaukee Bucks — $17.1 million
Position : Center
Contract : 3 years, $51.4 million
One thing to know : Monroe can opt out of his contract this summer, and it is no lock for him to the return to the Bucks next season. In addition to Monroe, the Bucks also have Spencer Hawes, Thon Maker, and John Henson, three players who can fill Monroe's role in the middle.
22. Luol Deng, Los Angeles Lakers — $18.0 million
Position : Small forward
Contract : 4 years, $72.0 million
One thing to know : Deng is in the first year of a four-year, $72 million contract. However, his days with the Lakers may already be numbered. He recently lost his starting job andMark Heisler of the Los Angeles Daily News notes that Magic Johnson could look to trade Deng this offseason.
21. Paul George, Indiana Pacers — $18.3 million
Position : Small forward
Contract : 5 years, $91.6 million
One thing to know : Despite a flurry of rumors at the trade deadline, George was not moved. Interestingly, Despite reports that George wants to play for the Lakers, Kevin Durant's injury could make it more enticing for him to stay with the Pacers. The injury could open the door for George to make the All-NBA team which would mean he could make a lot more money staying in Indiana .
20. LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs — $20.6 million
Position : Power forward
Contract : 4 years, $84.1 million
One thing to know : There were some reports earlier in the season that Aldridge was not happy in San Antonio and that a trade was not out of the realm of possibility. Aldridge later dismissed those rumors , saying "Yeah for sure I am (happy in San Antonio). We made history last year. They've incorporated me into the family. Try to make me one of the big pieces."
19. Nicolas Batum, Charlotte Hornets — $20.9 million
Position : Shooting guard
Contract : 5 years, $120.0 million
One thing to know : Batum re-signed with the Hornets this past offseason, settling for less than a max contract, which would have been worth $150 million. At the time, Batum was considered to behigh on the Lakers' wish list .
18. Brook Lopez, Brooklyn Nets — $21.2 million
Position : Center
Contract : 3 years, $63.5 million
One thing to know : Lopez's contract includes protection for the Nets in case Lopez's foot injuries keep him out of action again . He can become a free agent in 2018.
15t. Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards — $22.1 million
Position : Shooting guard
Contract : 5 years, $127.2 million
One thing to know : John Wall has admitted that "a lot of times [he and Beal] have a tendency to dislike each other on the court." So it probably doesn't help that Beal has a $127 million contract in his fifth season and Wall has an $84.8 million contract in his seventh season.
15t. Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans — $22.1 million
Position : Power Forward
Contract : 5 years, $127.2 million
One thing to know : Davis lost out on about $23 million when he failed to be an All-Star starter or be named to the All-NBA team last season. That reduced his max.-level salary from 30% to 25% of the team's salary cap.
15t. Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons — $22.1 million
Position : Center
Contract : 5 years, $127.2 million (Drummond can opt out of the final year of the contract in 2020)
One thing to know : The total value of Drummond's contract is $47 million more than any other contract in Pistons history .
14. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers — $22.9 million
Position : Point guard
Contract : 5 years, $107.3 million (Paul can opt out of the final year of the contract in 2017)
One thing to know : Paul can become a free agent after the season, so he picked a good time to have LASIK surgery . He is attempting 4.9 three-point attempts per game, the most in his career and his 53.7% effective field goal percentage (adjusted for three-pointers) is the second-best of his career and 20 points higher than last year.
13. Dwight Howard, Atlanta Hawks — $23.2 million
Position : Center
Contract : 3 years, $70.5 million
One thing to know : After opting out of the final year of his deal with the Rockets, Howard signed with the Hawks this past summer. He later said that he did not meet with any other teams and didn't care if other teams were willing to offer more money.
12. Dwyane Wade, Chicago Bulls — $23.2 million
Position : Shooting guard
Contract : 2 years, $47.0 million (Wade can opt out of the final year of the contract in 2017)
One thing to know : Wade's surprising move to the Bulls this past summer as a free agent had LeBron James' fingerprints all over it and it was LeBron who may have benefited the most .
11. Chris Bosh, Miami Heat — $23.7 million
Position : Power forward
Contract : 5 years, $118.7 million
One thing to know : Because of his recurring blood-clot issues, Bosh has played his final game with the Heatand is expected to be released sometime in the near future. The important date was March 1. Now that that date has passed, the Heat can apply for a medical exemption which clear some of Bosh's salary from the salary cap.
10. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers — $24.3 million
Position : Point guard
Contract : 5 years, $139.9 million
One thing to know : Lillard's $139.9 million contract is the second-largest in NBA history.
9. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks — $24.6 million
Position : Small forward
Contract : 5 years, $124.1 million (Anthony can opt out of the final year of the contract in 2018)
One thing to know : Despite heavy rumors at the trade deadline, Anthony remains with the Knicks despite the team seemingly wishing to trade him and rebuild around Kristaps Porzingis. Anthony is under contract — including a full no-trade clause — through the 2018-19 season, but he can opt out of the final year of the deal.
8. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks — $25.0 million
Position : Power forward
Contract : 2 years, $50.0 million (The second year of the deal for the 2017-18 season is a team option)
One thing to know : Nowitzki stopped taking discounts this summer , an indication that he knew the Mavs wouldn't be competing again for a championship anytime soon.
2t. Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors — $26.5 million
Position : Small forward
Contract : 2 years, $54.3 million (Durant can opt out of the final year of the contract in 2017)
One thing to know : Durant was the biggest prize in free agency this past summer, spurning the Thunder and signing with the Warriors. His new team had been as good as advertised, but now he is expected to miss most of the remaining regular-season games with an injured knee.
2t. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder — $26.5 million
Position : Point guard
Contract : 3 years, $85.6 million (Westbrook can opt out of the final year of the contract in 2018)
One thing to know : In a surprise move, Westbrook signed an extension with the Thunder just prior to the season. He was expected to be the top free agent on the market next summer. Now he will have to wait until the summer of 2018.
2t. Al Horford, Boston Celtics — $26.5 million
Position : Center
Contract : 4 years, $113.3 million (Horford can opt out of the final year of the contract in 2019)
One thing to know : The Celtics might have been the other big winner in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes. Horford was reportedly going to sign with the Thunder this past summer if Durant had stayed. When Durant went to the Warriors, Horford chose instead to sign with the Celtics.
2t. James Harden, Houston Rockets — $26.5 million
Position : Point guard
Contract : 4 years, $118.0 million (Harden can opt out of the final year of the contract in 2019)
One thing to know : Harden's $118 million contract is still dwarfed by the $200 million contract he signed with Adidas .
2t. DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors — $26.5 million
Position : Shooting guard
Contract : 5 years, $139.0 million (DeRozan can opt out of the final year of the contract in 2020)
One thing to know : DeRozan has rewarded the Raptors with their commitment, pushing his scoring average to nearly 28 points per game this season, among the league leaders. He averaged just 23.5 points per game last season.
2t. Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies — $26.5 million
Position : Point guard
Contract : 5 years, $152.6 million (Conley can opt out of the final year of the contract in 2020)
One thing to know : Conley's $152.6 million contract is the largest in NBA history.
1. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers — $31.0 million
Position : Small forward
Contract : 3 years, $99.9 million (James can opt out of the final year of the contract in 2018)
One thing to know : LeBron is the highest-paid player in the NBA. After signing a pair of one-year contracts, James chose instead this season to sign what is effectively a two-year contract. This will set him up to sign a monster contract in 2018 or leave Cleveland to join some of his friends on another super team.
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