There’s a trend developing in the National Basketball Association. An influx of cash — thanks to the new TV deal — is allowing teams to toss around money like a billionaire’s kid in a toy store.
The only problem is some of the players these teams are throwing cash at simply don’t deserve the kind of money they’re getting.
And when the salary cap goes up again after this season, there are going to be plenty of good players aligned to get paid as though they’re great.
They have Tristan Thompson to thank for that. Thompson and the Cleveland Cavaliers have watched their contract negotiations fall apart a few times this summer, but it culminated with the two sides agreeing to a gigantic five-year deal worth $82 million.
It’s a lot of money to give to a guy who won’t even be the Cavaliers’ starting power forward this season. Both Kevin Love and Timofey Mozgov are ahead of Thompson as far as Cleveland’s big men go.
Thompson may have been the fourth-overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, but we’re talking about a guy who only averaged double-digit points in two of his four seasons. This past season was the first time he shot more than 50 percent from the field.
But, with the guaranteed advance on their allowance, the Cavaliers hit the toy store and threw a bunch of it at Thompson because he’s consistent and a friend of LeBron James — they have the same agent. He doesn’t necessarily deserve to make $82 million, but he’s getting it regardless.
He’s not alone though. Other players are setting themselves up for big paydays. Here’s a list of the top-10 players likely to be overpaid next.
Next: 10. Ben McLemore