Since the 2024/25 league year began, six free agents have signed contracts that are worth $100MM or more. Here are those six players, with their accompanying contract details:
- OG Anunoby (Knicks): Five years, $212.5MM (fifth-year player option)
- Paul George (Sixers): Four years, $211.6MM (fourth year player option)
- Tyrese Maxey (Sixers): Five years, $203.9MM
- Pascal Siakam (Pacers): Four years, $189MM
- Immanuel Quickley (Raptors): Five years, $162.5MM (includes $12.5MM in unlikely incentives)
- LeBron James (Lakers): Two years, $101.4MM (second-year player option)
On top of that, another 10 players have signed contract extensions exceeding $100MM in total value. Those 10 players – whose extensions will take effect in 2025/26, with one exception – are as follows:
- Jayson Tatum (Celtics): Five years, $313.9MM (fifth-year player option) *
- Scottie Barnes (Raptors): Five years, $224.2MM *
- Cade Cunningham (Pistons): Five years, $224.2MM *
- Evan Mobley (Cavaliers): Five years, $224.2MM *
- Franz Wagner (Magic): Five years, $224.2MM *
- Lauri Markkanen (Jazz): Four years, $195.9MM (includes an additional $24.1MM applied to 2024/25 cap hit, for a total of $220MM in new money)
- Bam Adebayo (Heat): Three years, $165.3MM (third-year player option) *
- Note: Extension begins in 2026/27.
- Jalen Brunson (Knicks): Four years, $156.5MM (fourth-year player option)
- Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers): Three years, $150.3MM (third-year player option) *
Contracts marked with an asterisk (*) include projected salary figures based on 10% cap increases for the next two seasons. Barnes’, Cunningham’s, Mobley’s, and Wagner’s contracts could be worth up to as much as $269.1MM if certain Rose Rule performance criteria are met.
Even with the NBA’s salary cap set to continue increasing at a pretty rapid rate in the coming years, these deals represent massive significant investments for their respective teams.
In some cases, those commitments were no-brainers. Maxey, for example, is 23 years old, made his first All-Star team last season, and was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player. Paying him big money for his prime years was an easy decision for the Sixers.
Brunson’s $156.5MM contract with the Knicks is well below the maximum he could have earned if he had waited until free agency to sign a new deal. And after finishing fifth in MVP voting last season, the veteran point guard appeared to be on a maximum-salary trajectory, so New York presumably didn’t hesitate to sign off on that extension.
Some other deals on these lists carry more risk. Anunoby and George have worrisome injury histories, and George is 34 years old. Quickley, Cunningham, Mobley, and Wagner have never made an All-Star team (neither has Anunoby). James is turning 40 later this year, though he has shown no signs of slowing down and his two-year contract is the shortest-term deal in this group.
We want to know what you think. From a team’s perspective, which of these nine-figure contracts would you feel most comfortable carrying? Which one would make you the most nervous?
In two years, will any of these players find themselves in a situation like Zach LaVine‘s in Chicago (ie. a trade candidate whose contract is too onerous to move)? Or will some of these deals look like smarter investments in two years than they do now?
Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts on the most lucrative contracts of the 2024 offseason!
Quickly getting more than Brunson is wild. Quickley should have gotten 135mil per for 5 years…
Quickly has 1 more year so technically the amount is less. If you also take out the unlikely incentive it is less.
Brunson decided to take less so it wasn’t like this was the only offer he would have gotten in extension.
Yup I know Brunson took a team friendly deal. But in context Quickly shouldn’t make more than him.
Some folks here ….. think Knicks should have signed Quickley. What for I’ll never know ….
OG and Brunson ….
All those contracts will look unmovable in 2 years easy. Those with the artesik will never see close to the money suggested.
The new NBA contract is a bad one over the 11 year arch. The real trouble part 2 will start in the 28/29 season on.
They will never see close to the promised streaming monies promised is part 1.
I don’t see your point with your first sentence, none of the players listed above are the type you look to move in two years. Of course there are some risks involved but that’s part of doing business, you can’t just not sign any players.
The contracts are signed and NBA player contracts are guaranteed unlike the NFL. The numbers are projections that will go up when the salary cap increases, so yes the players signed will see that money. Revenue has gone up steadily for the last 20 seasons with the exception of those affected by the COVID pandemic and the strike shortened 2011/12 season.
Once again they’re are contracts involved and money will be held in escrow accounts to assure the NBA gets their money unless something unforseen but doubtful happens such ESPN, Peacock or Amazon filing for bankruptcy or there’s an apocalypse.
Quickly for sure the worst. Best case scenario he produces league average value while getting paid all star level for a team not ready to compete.
Worst case scenario you attach picks to get out of it in year 2.
Not worth the risk.
Quickley Stats – Raptors
19, 7, 5
Field Goal 42%,
3pt FG 40%
Jalen Green Stats
20, 5, 4
Field Goal 42%,
3pt FG 33%
How much should Jalen Green get pay?
Both are shooting guards
Barnes, Cade, Mobley and Wagner sign $224 million contract each.
I always ask this question:
Should the Rockets extend the contracts for Jalen Green and Sengun?
Clutchpoints.com predict the Rockets to win 38 games 2024-25 season.
I predict the Rockets to win 42 games in 2024-25 season and 39 wins in 2025-26 season.
Why? Next summer Rockers are likely to get rid of Fred VanVleet and replace with Sheppard.
Scottie Barnes (Raptors): Five years, $224.2MM *
Cade Cunningham (Pistons): Five years, $224.2MM *
Evan Mobley (Cavaliers): Five years, $224.2MM *
Franz Wagner (Magic): Five years, $224.2MM *
Sengun, yes. Green, you’d hold off because he’s only lived up to his potential *consistently* for a grand total of a month and a half at the end of last season. Sengun has been the best player on the Rockets for each of the past three years, and it’s not close.
Sengun has not been the best player on Rockets in any season. The guy cannot guard a chair.
lol no
Many teams are tanking during final month of the regular season. Hold off means postpone the problems.
Some Rockets fans want to keep Jalen Green and get rid of VanVleet next summer. That is downgrade.
How much should Jalen Green get pay?
OGs deal putting up 13-14 points will be worse than Tobias, don’t care about the defense.
Neither do Sixers ….. that’s why you will never win
Well the Knicks have been irrelevant longer than the Sixers… 1973 is a bit older than 1983.
I would say Franz Wagner has the largest possibility to end up the worst. He’s a good pure scorer, and definitely has the upside to get there, but his 3pt shooting completely flatlined last year. 36% to 28% on the same volume is horrific. And there are other flags too.
Quickley has the defense and playmaking that add value, and he’s not earning nearly as much, but they produced nearly identical VORP last year , with Quickley being far superior the year prior (2.1 VORP vs 1.3 VORP). He has the chops to become a 20 PPG scorer as the third leg of the Barnes/Barrett/Him tripod, and he averaged nearly 7 assists to less than 2 turnovers per game with the Raptors. People expecting him to be the largely catch-and-shoot guy that he was on the Knicks are not up to date on his game.
Franz isn’t a playmaker, and he’s not a great defender for a wing, in spite of his length. Average in isolation, below-average on the perimeter, below-average on the switch. He’s a good team and zone defender, which makes him play up a bit, but on his own he’s just neutral.
I think if he fixes his 3PT shot and takes a step forward on defense, he’s worth the deal. However, if he continues to produce like last season, he’s clearly the worst contract. Even if Quickley’s is an overpay, it’s not as much of one as Wagner for current performance, and has a lower bust risk.
Quickley’s AAV without the unlikely incentives: $30 million.
Franz’s flat AAV: $44.84 million.
Fifteen million more per year for roughly the same total value relative to the league? No thanks.
I hope Boston enjoys their current roster bc there’s no room to add even a ball boy until like 2030. I know Brown was the Finals MVP but his extension is front office malpractice. Just because you can pay someone more than anyone else doesn’t mean you should. These GM’s bidding against themselves kills teams. See the Lakers. There were no teams willing to give Gabe Vincent $33m and Vanderbilt $52m yet what did dumbass Rob do? Paying players more doesn’t make them better players.