The real worst contracts in the NBA

Perspective is everything.

Good morning. Let's basketball.

Bill Simmons recently ran his annual podcast highlighting what he and his guests deem the "worst contracts in the NBA." Simmons and friends take the position of management in this exercise, and consider "worse" to be the worst values for team salary cap sheets. A better definition of a "bad contract" is to determine which members of the labor pool are getting underpaid relative to their value. As such, here are the real worst contracts in the NBA.

Two caveats: no rookie deals and no all-out max deals. Otherwise this list would probably resemble the MVP rankings, and that's a bit boring. The very best players in the league almost universally get underpaid relative to their value, and especially so for All-NBA caliber players on rookie deals.

15. Sam Merrill, 4 years, $38 million

There are a bunch of role players on this list, because landing a vital rotation piece on a lower contract is vital for managers building sustainable rosters. That makes it a relatively bad deal for said specialists, especially ones like Merrill who have a single elite skill that happens to be one of the most important in the league. Timing the market is everything for these players. If he'd hit free agency two years earlier, before the aprons wreaked havoc, he could have been in the $15-20 million annual range.

14. Naji Marshall, 2 years, $18 million

The weird two years in Dallas have masked that Naji Marshall has far exceeded his contract value as a swing rotation player who can fill what gaps the Mavericks happen to have. A crucial ability that should be better compensated in the NBA ecosystem.

13. Saddiq Bey, 2 years, $12 million

Bey is a solid wing who has been trapped on irrelevant teams. He's averaging an efficient 20 points per 36 minutes in New Orleans this season. These are the sorts of contracts that allow general managers to get more free-spending elsewhere on the roster.

12. Isaiah Stewart, 3 years, $45 million

A legitimate NVWDPOY (Non-Victor Wembanyama Defensive Player of the Year) candidate on a song of a contract at $15 million per year. Every team in the NBA would take this deal, which is a good indicator that Beef Stew is underpaid. Here's to hoping that Tom Gores is at least paying all of Stew's fines.

11. Ivica Zubac, 3 years, $47 million

I still have no idea why Zubac signed a discount extension with the Clippers – owned by the richest man in the NBA – in 2024 instead of pressing his case for a bigger contract. The Clippers prove repeatedly to show no loyalty to their players; why cut a bargain deal? He's a top-10 center in the league and will be making 12% of the cap over the life of his contract.

10. Donte DiVincenzo, 2 years, $26 million

DDV has played in (and started) every single game for the Wolves this season and has been essential in keeping them in the top six in the West through injuries and malaise. Just a rock-solid no-drama two-way player on a deal that's less than 8% of the salary cap. (Note: DiVincenzo's teammate Ayo Dosunmu is not on this list because he will be a free agent this summer.)

9. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, 4 years, $61 million

Speaking of Wolves, NAW cashed in when free agency hit last summer ... and immediately began exceeding his contract value by becoming a 20-point scorer. There are only a handful of No. 2 options or 20-point scorers making less than NAW this season. The fact that he's 27 and this new contract (average annual value just over $15 million, or just over the average NBA salary) will run through his age-expected prime is pretty brutal.

8. Trey Murphy III, 4 years, $112 million

Trey the Third makes a bunch of money ... but lesser players have locked up even more. This is Example A of why it's a huge risk for players to take deals way below the max after Year 3 of their rookie deal. If Murphy had waited a year, he almost assuredly could have negotiated for something closer to the rookie max extension (25% of the cap) instead of the 15% deal he took. Again: generational money. It could have lasted a couple extra generations if he didn't jump on the contract a year early.

7. Luke Kornet, 4 years, $41 million

The rare older veteran on this list. You want to know the sign of a bad contract? It gets leaked and everyone immediately lauds the deal. Ever wonder if said player's agent gets real nervous once that happens? "Great deal for the Spurs, he's going to be great as Wemby's back-up!" Uhhh, should I have pushed for more money? YES. Meanwhile, the Spurs have three studs (including an MVP candidate) on rookie deals and a long-term high-level back-up center under the average salary.

6. Jalen Brunson, 4 years, $156 million

Brunson famously took less money to help the Knicks keep its title-contender core in place. Brunson may feel like he has a special relationship with the Knicks owing to his childhood and Coach Dad. And that's fine. Do what you want. Leave money on the table for dudes in track suits to spend as they wish. Just two words of warning for you: James Dolan.

5. Julian Champagnie, 2 years, $6 million

This is a nasty one. Champagnie went undrafted out of St. John's, signed a two-way with the Sixers, was waived, got picked up by the Spurs, who then signed him at the end of the season to a 4-year, $12 million deal. I'm sure it was truly wonderful for Champagnie to sign that deal in that precarious professional position! Meanwhile, Champagnie has started 145 games on that contract and could be a starter on a championship team this season. The Spurs should do the right thing and decline Champagnie's team option for $3 million for next season and give him a fair salary.

4. Ajay Mitchell, 3 years, $8.7 million

Oklahoma City has pushed out some disgusting contracts over the years, but the machinations to get Mitchell onto a multi-year deal under $3 million annually is the coup de disgrace. That the deal – which involved OKC declining Mitchell's second-round option years to get him guaranteed money sooner – was touted as some sort of Sam Presti fit of generosity makes it all the more gross. Presti knew what he was doing: locking in a Sixth Man of the Year candidate way under market value for as long as possible. Bad contract.