NBA
Breakdown of the Current NBA Financial Landscape
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
The NBA’s national television deal helped raise the league’s salary cap to $94.1 million, a historic jump from last year’s $70 million.
Armed with increased spending power, teams invested heavily, topping out with LeBron James, who is earning $31 million as the highest paid player in the NBA.
James’ salary represents 32.9 percent of the salary cap, but with the Cavaliers paying out $129.3 million to players this season, James is just 23.9 percent of the team’s payroll.
For the 2015-16 season, James earned $23 million, an equivalent of 32.8 percent of the salary cap, and 21.5 percent of Cleveland’s payroll.
Teams have limited spending tools. The Cavaliers have creatively amassed the NBA’s highest payroll, but most teams are contracted to pay $90-$110 million this year.
How wisely those resources have been allocated can be the difference between a contender and an also-ran. It can be easy to get caught up in the dollar value of a player’s contract, but looking instead at the percentage of team salary can help put the NBA’s recent inflation into perspective.
By that measure, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook is the highest paid player this season. The MVP candidate is earning 30.5 percent of Oklahoma City’s payroll.
For now, C.J. McCollum is one of the NBA’s most productive starters at an economic 2.9 percent of the Portland Trail Blazers’ salary. On a recently-signed extension, his new salary will push him closer to 20 percent next season.
Chris Bosh’s unfortunate health situation has a major portion of the Miami HEAT’s salary tied up (23.4 percent) in a player the team won’t clear to play this season. The Philadelphia 76ers have almost a quarter of their salary (23.3 percent) going to injured forward Ben Simmons and waived players (Carl Landry, Tibor Pleiss, etc.).
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers are paying their starters just 51.3 percent of their total salary, appropriate given how important the bench has been in the team’s surprising start.
The following list details how much teams are paying for their players. The figures are percentages of total payroll.
Atlanta Hawks
Salary Total: $99,289,619
Healthy Starters (67.4 percent): Dwight Howard (23.3), Paul Millsap (20.2), Kent Bazemore (15.8), Kyle Korver (5.3), Dennis Schroder (2.7)
Highest Reserve: Tiago Splitter (8.6)
Other Contributors: Kris Humphries (4.0), Thabo Sefolosha (3.9), Malcolm Delaney (2.5), Tim Hardaway Jr. (2.3), Mike Muscala (1.0)
Dead Money (waived players): 0.1
Boston Celtics
Salary Total: $93,035,160
Healthy Starters (64.2): Al Horford (28.5), Amir Johnson (12.9), Avery Bradley (8.9), Isaiah Thomas (7.1), Jae Crowder (6.8)
Highest Reserve: Tyler Zeller (8.6)
Other Contributors: Jonas Jerebko (5.4), Jaylen Brown (5.1), Marcus Smart (3.8), Kelly Olynyk (3.3), Terry Rozier (2.0), Gerald Green (1.1)
Dead Money: 1.7
Brooklyn Nets
Salary Total: $76,058.742
Healthy Starters (61.6): Brook Lopez (27.8), Jeremy Lin (15.1), Trevor Booker (12.2), Bojan Bogdanovic (4.7), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (1.8)
Highest Reserve: Luis Scola (7.2)
Other Contributors: Justin Hamilton (3.9), Randy Foye (3.3), Isaiah Whitehead (1.4), Anthony Bennett (1.3), Sean Kilpatrick (1.3), Joe Harris (1.3), Yogi Ferrell (0.7)
Dead Money: 14.3
Charlotte Hornets
Salary Total: $99,709,773
Healthy Starters (63.6): Nicolas Batum (20.9), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (13.0), Marvin Williams (12.3), Kemba Walker (12.0), Cody Zeller (5.3)
Highest Reserve: Jeremy Lamb (6.5)
Other Contributors: Spencer Hawes (6.4), Marco Belinelli (6.4), Ramon Sessions (6.0), Roy Hibbert (5.0), Frank Kaminsky (2.7)
Dead Money: 0.1
Chicago Bulls
Salary Total: $97,133,573
Healthy Starters (79.2): Dwyane Wade (23.9), Jimmy Butler (18.1), Rajon Rondo (14.4), Robin Lopez (13.6), Taj Gibson (9.2)
Highest Reserve: Nikola Mirotic (6.0)
Other Contributors: Michael Carter-Williams (3.3), Doug McDermott (2.6), Jerian Grant (1.7), Bobby Portis (1.5), Isaiah Canaan (1.0), Christiano Felicio (1.3)
Dead Money: 0.1
Cleveland Cavaliers
Salary Total: $129,294,181
Healthy Starters (75.7): LeBron James (23.9), Kevin Love (16.4), Kyrie Irving (13.6), Tristan Thompson (11.9), J.R. Smith (9.9)
Highest Reserve: Iman Shumpert (7.5)
Other Contributors: Channing Frye (6.0), Mike Dunleavy Jr. (3.7), Richard Jefferson (1.9), Jordan McRae (0.7)
Dead Money: None, although Mo Williams (1.7) is under contract but is functionally retired.
Cleveland Cavaliers Team Salary
Dallas Mavericks
Salary Total: $110,920.751
Healthy Starters (76.0): Dirk Nowitzki (22.5), Harrison Barnes (19.9), Wesley Matthews (15.5), Andrew Bogut (9.9), Deron Williams (8.1)
Highest Reserve: Dwight Powell (7.6)
Other Contributors: J.J. Barea (3.7), Seth Curry (2.6), Justin Anderson (1.4), Salah Mejri (0.8), Dorian Finney-Smith (0.5)
Dead Money: 2.2
Denver Nuggets
Salary Total: $75,242,914
Healthy Starters (30.9): Danilo Gallinari (20.0), Emmanuel Mudiay (3.4), Jusuf Nurkic (2.0), Gary Harris (1.8), Nikola Jokic (1.8)
Note: The Nuggets have recently experimented with different starting lineups.
Highest Reserve: Kenneth Faried (16.1)
Other Contributors: Wilson Chandler (14.9), Jameer Nelson (6.0), Will Barton (4.7), Jamal Murray (4.3), Juancho Hernangomez (2.6)
Dead Money: 1.8
Detroit Pistons
Salary Total: $107,901,937
Healthy Starters (58.0): Andre Drummond (20.5), Tobias Harris (15.9), Reggie Jackson (13.9), Marcus Morris (4.3), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (3.4)
Highest Reserve: Jon Leuer (10.2)
Other Contributors: Ish Smith (5.6), Beno Udrih (0.9), Aron Baynes (6.0), Stanley Johnson (2.8)
Dead Money: 5.0
Golden State Warriors
Salary Total: $99,638,439
Healthy Starters (73.8): Kevin Durant (26.6), Klay Thompson (16.7), Draymond Green (15.4), Stephen Curry (12.2), Zaza Pachulia (2.9)
Highest Reserve: Andre Iguodala (11.2)
Other Contributors: Shaun Livingston (5.8), Ian Clark (1.0), Patrick McCaw (0.5), David West (1.0)
Dead Money: 1.4
Golden State Warriors Team Salary
Houston Rockets
Salary Total: $94,830,624
Healthy Starters (70.4): James Harden (28.0), Ryan Anderson (19.8), Eric Gordon (13.1), Trevor Ariza (8.2), Clint Capela (1.4)
Highest Reserve: Corey Brewer (8.0)
Other Contributors: Patrick Beverley (6.3), K.J. McDaniels (3.1), Nene (3.1), Sam Dekker (1.8), Tyler Ennis (1.8)
Dead Money: 1.7
Indiana Pacers
Salary Total: $90,002,004
Healthy Starters (60.5): Paul George (20.3), Thaddeus Young (15.7), Monta Ellis (12.0), Jeff Teague (9.8)
Highest Reserve: Al Jefferson (11.4)
Other Contributors: Rodney Stuckey (7.8), C.J. Miles (5.1), Lavoy Allen (4.4), Aaron Brooks (3.0), Kevin Seraphin (2.0), Glenn Robinson III (1.2)
Dead Money: 1.5
Los Angeles Clippers
Salary Total: $114,740,032
Healthy Starters (64.8): Chris Paul (19.9), DeAndre Jordan (18.4), Blake Griffin (17.6), J.J. Redick (6.4), Luc Mbah a Moute (1.9)
Highest Reserve: Jamal Crawford (11.6)
Other Contributors: Austin Rivers (9.6), Wesley Johnson (4.9), Marreese Speights (1.2), Raymond Felton (0.9), Brandon Bass (0.9)
Dead Money: 1.2
Los Angeles Clippers Team Salary
Los Angeles Lakers
Salary Total: $93,613,079
Healthy Starters (51.3): Luol Deng (19.2), Timofey Mozgov (17.1), Nick Young (5.8), D’Angelo Russell (5.7), Julius Randle (3.5)
Highest Reserve: Jordan Clarkson (13.4)
Other Contributors: Lou Williams (7.5), Tarik Black (6.6), Brandon Ingram (5.6), Larry Nance Jr. (1.3)
Dead Money: 1.3
Los Angeles Lakers Team Salary
Memphis Grizzlies
Salary Total: $110,288,212
Healthy Starters (66.8): Mike Conley (24.1), Chandler Parsons (20.1), Marc Gasol (19.2), James Ennis (2.6), JaMychal Green (0.9)
Highest Reserve: Zach Randolph (9.4)
Other Contributors: Tony Allen (5.0), Vince Carter (3.9), Andrew Harrison (0.9), Jarell Martin (1.2), Wade Baldwin (1.6)
Dead Money: 1.3
Miami HEAT
Salary Total: $101,513,503
Healthy Starters (43.7): Hassan Whiteside (21.8), Goran Dragic (15.7), Dion Waiters (2.9), Justise Winslow (2.6), Josh Richardson (0.9)
Highest Reserve: Wayne Ellington (5.9)
Other Contributors: Derrick Williams (4.5), James Johnson (3.9), Luke Babbitt (1.2), Willie Reed (1.0), Rodney McGruder (0.5)
Dead Money: 0.6 plus Chris Bosh (23.4), who is unable to clear a Miami physical.
Milwaukee Bucks
Salary Total: $98,493,672
Healthy Starters (31.3): John Henson (12.5), Matthew Dellavedova (9.8), Jabari Parker (5.5), Giannis Antetokounmpo (3.0), Tony Snell (2.4)
Highest Reserve: Greg Monroe (17.4)
Other Contributors: Miles Plumlee (12.7), Michael Beasley (1.4), Mirza Teletovic (10.7), Malcolm Brogdon (0.9), Rashad Vaughn (1.8), Jason Terry (1.0)
Dead Money: 1.9 plus Khris Middleton (15.4) who is likely out for the season.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Salary Total: $81,771,877
Healthy Starters (36.8): Ricky Rubio (16.6), Andrew Wiggins (7.3), Karl-Anthony Towns (7.3), Gorgui Dieng (2.9), Zach LaVine (2.7)
Highest Reserve: Cole Aldrich (9.3)
Other Contributors: Shabazz Muhammad (3.7), Nemanja Bjelica (4.6), Kris Dunn (4.7), Brandon Rush (3.7)
Dead Money: 11.4 plus Nikola Pekovic (14.8) who is out for the season.
Minnesota Timberwolves Team Salary
New Orleans Pelicans
Salary Total: $99,718,087
Healthy Starters (54.5): Anthony Davis (22.2), Jrue Holiday (11.3), Omer Asik (9.9), E’Twaun Moore (8.1), Dante Cunningham (3.0)
Note: Holiday recently returned from personal time, the Pelicans’ starting lineup is in flux.
Highest Reserve: Solomon Hill (11.3)
Other Contributors: Tyreke Evans (10.2), once healthy, Langston Galloway (5.2), Alexis Ajinca (4.7), Tim Frazier (2.1), Terrence Jones (1.0), Buddy Hield (3.5), Archie Goodwin (0.9)
Dead Money: 2.4
New Orleans Pelicans Team Salary
New York Knicks
Salary Total: $102,632,073
Healthy Starters (76.4): Carmelo Anthony (23.9), Derrick Rose (20.8), Joakim Noah (16.6), Courtney Lee (11.0), Kristaps Porzingis (4.2)
Highest Reserve: Lance Thomas (6.0)
Other Contributors: Brandon Jennings (4.9), Justin Holiday (1.0), Willy Hernangomez (1.0), Mindaugas Kuzminskas (2.8), Kyle O’Quinn (3.8), Maurice Ndour (0.5)
Dead Money: 1.2
Oklahoma City Thunder
Salary Total: $86,969,118
Healthy Starters (47.0): Russell Westbrook (30.5), Victor Oladipo (7.5), Steven Adams (3.6), Domantas Sabonis (2.8), Andre Roberson (2.5)
Highest Reserve: Enes Kanter (19.7)
Other Contributors: Jerami Grant (1.1), Alex Abrines (6.9), Joffrey Lauvergne (2.0), Semaj Christon (1.1), Kyle Singler (5.6), Cameron Payne (2.4, injured)
Dead Money: 5.0
Oklahoma City Thunder Team Salary
Orlando Magic
Salary Total: $106,785,222
Healthy Starters (44.9): Evan Fournier (15.9), Serge Ibaka (11.5), Nikola Vucevic (11.0), Aaron Gordon (4.1), Elfrid Payton (2.4)
Highest Reserve: Bismack Biyombo (15.9)
Other Contributors: Jeff Green (14.0), DJ Augustin (6.8), C.J. Watson (4.7), Mario Hezonja (3.7)
Dead Money: None
Philadelphia 76ers
Salary Total: $77,495,724
Healthy Starters (40.3): Gerald Henderson (11.6), Ersan Ilyasova (10.8), Sergio Rodriguez (10.3), Joel Embiid (6.2), Robert Covington (1.3)
Highest Reserve: Jerryd Bayless (12.2)
Other Contributors: Jahlil Okafor (6.2), Nerlens Noel (5.7, injured), Nik Stauskas (3.9), Dario Saric (3.0), Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (1.7), Richaun Holmes (1.3), Hollis Thompson (1.3), T.J. McConnell (1.1)
Dead Money: 15.7 plus Ben Simmons (7.6), who may be out for the season.
Philadelphia 76ers Team Salary
Phoenix Suns
Salary Total: $81,444,454
Healthy Starters (41.4): Eric Bledsoe (17.2), Tyson Chandler (15.2), Marquese Chriss (3.6), Devin Booker (2.7), T.J. Warren (2.6)
Note: The Suns’ starting lineup is in flux.
Highest Reserve: Brandon Knight (15.5)
Other Contributors: Jared Dudley (12.9), P.J. Tucker (6.5), Alex Len (5.9), Dragan Bender (5.3), Leandro Barbosa (4.9)
Dead Money: 3.5
Portland Trail Blazers
Salary Total: $112,823,450
Healthy Starters (41.3): Damian Lillard (21.6), Mo Harkless (8.0), Al-Farouq Aminu (6.8), C.J. McCollum (2.9), Mason Plumlee (2.1)
Highest Reserve: Allen Crabbe (16.4)
Other Contributors: Evan Turner (14.5), Meyers Leonard (8.2), Festus Ezeli (6.6, injured), Ed Davis (5.9), Noah Vonleh (2.4)
Dead Money: 1.8
Portland Trail Blazers Team Salary
Sacramento Kings
Salary Total: $96,210,260
Healthy Starters (53.9): DeMarcus Cousins (17.6), Rudy Gay (13.9), Arron Afflalo (13.0), Kosta Koufos (8.4), Ty Lawson (1.0)
Note: The Kings’ starting lineup is in flux.
Highest Reserve: Anthony Tolliver (8.4)
Other Contributors: Garrett Temple (8.3), Matt Barnes (6.4), Darren Collison (5.4), Ben McLemore (4.2), Willie Cauley-Stein (3.7)
Dead Money: 0.8
San Antonio Spurs
Salary Total: $108,309,287
Healthy Starters (72.2): LaMarcus Aldridge (19.0), Kawhi Leonard (16.3), Pau Gasol (14.3), Tony Parker (13.3), Danny Green (9.2)
Highest Reserve: Manu Ginobili (12.9)
Other Contributors: Patty Mills (3.3), Dewayne Dedmon (2.7), David Lee (1.4), Kyle Anderson (1.1), Jonathon Simmons (0.8), Nicolas Laprovittola (0.5), Davis Bertans (0.5)
Dead Money: 3.0
Toronto Raptors
Salary Total: $106,727,970
Healthy Starters (64.0): DeMar DeRozan (24.9), Jonas Valanciunas (13.5), DeMarre Carroll (13.3), Kyle Lowry (11.2), Pascal Siakam (1.1)
Highest Reserve: Terrence Ross (9.4)
Other Contributors: Cory Joseph (6.9), Patrick Patterson (5.7), Jared Sullinger (5.3, injured), Lucas Nogueira (1.8), Norman Powell (0.8), Jakob Poeltl (2.5)
Dead Money: 0.2
Utah Jazz
Salary Total: $80,498,192
Healthy Starters (48.0): Gordon Hayward (20.0), Derrick Favors (13.7), George Hill (9.9), Rudy Gobert (2.6), Rodney Hood (1.7)
Highest Reserve: Joe Johnson (13.7)
Other Contributors: Boris Diaw (8.7), Dante Exum (4.9), Shelvin Mack (2.9), Trey Lyles (2.9), Joe Ingles (2.6)
Dead Money: 0.3 plus Alex Burks (12.6), who is injured.
Washington Wizards
Salary Total: 103,285,007
Healthy Starters (62.3): Bradley Beal (21.4), John Wall (16.4), Marcin Gortat (11.6), Markieff Morris (7.2), Otto Porter (6.3)
Highest Reserve: Ian Mahinmi (15.4)
Other Contributors: Andrew Nicholson (5.9), Jason Smith (4.8), Trey Burke (3.3), Tomas Satoransky (2.8), Kelly Oubre (1.9), Marcus Thornton (0.9)
Dead Money: 1.0
