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10 most valuable contracts in the NBA

By Bryce Olin

May 31, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) during the first quarter in game six of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
May 31, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) during the first quarter in game six of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 12, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter in game four of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
May 12, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter in game four of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /

8.  Damian Lillard (3 years, $9.6 million) 

As a Blazers fan, putting Lillard in the group of the ten most valuable contracts  was fairly easy for me. I’ve heard the arguments about Lillard being overrated and shooting a low percentage from the field, and I see the basis for those arguments. However, no one can deny what Lillard brings to the game every single night. Only the people who watch the Blazers every night know what I’m talking about.

The Blazers go as Lillard goes. He’s the most integral part of the Blazers’ offense. Lillard’s pick-and-rolls and running off screens are two of the top three things the Blazers do on offense, the other being LaMarcus Aldridge post ups. If Lillard takes a game off or doesn’t show up that night, it’s going to be difficult for the Blazers to win. Plus, when he does stuff like this, how can you not say this is value:

Lillard only makes $3.2 million per season, which is $1.3 million less than Caron Butler and Ben Gordon. That makes sense, right? Obviously, this is because Lillard, like Drummond (listed before), is still on his rookie contract. Once that contract is up in two seasons, Lillard is going to get a max contract. Then, and only then, can we argue that Lillard is overpaid or overrated.

Among point guards, Lillard had the 13th highest PER in the league at 18.69. Of course, that doesn’t put Lillard in the most valuable contract category right off the bat, but when you consider every point guard ahead of him on the list (except Patty Mills) is making more than $7 million per year, that puts Lillard in the conversation.

Season MP FG% 3P% FT% TRB AST STL BLK PTS
2013-14 ★ 35.8 .424 .394 .871 3.5 5.6 0.8 0.3 20.7

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/22/2014.

Last season, Lillard also averaged 20.7 points per game, 5.6 assists per game, and made 218 3s on 39 percent from three-point range. At $3.2 million per season, that’s definitely a top-ten most valuable contract.

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