Over the last two decades in the NBA, teams have spared no expense in their pursuit of an NBA championship. All 30 teams have spent at least $1.5 billion in total payroll in that pursuit while four of those teams have exceeded the $2.0 billion threshold. As time has gone on from the 2004-05 season up until the present day, NBA contracts have gotten bigger and teams are spending more than ever before.
- 1. Golden State Warriors – $2,080,834,500
- 2. New York Knicks – $2,058,369,899
- 3. Los Angeles Lakers – $2,035,296,481
- 4. Dallas Mavericks – $2,024,743,718
- 5. Miami Heat – $1,994,578,596
- 6. Los Angeles Clippers – $1,976,810.427
- 7. Boston Celtics – $1,954,860,643
- 8. Cleveland Cavaliers – $1,954,748,822
- 9. Brooklyn Nets – $1,931,894,292
- 10. Portland Trail Blazers – $1,900,872,312
- 11. Milwaukee Bucks – $1,898,747,673
- 12. Toronto Raptors – $1,862,612,462
- 13. Philadelphia 76ers – $1,857,883,073
- 14. Denver Nuggets – $1,831,806,635
- 15. New Orleans Pelicans – $1,826,289.146
- 16. Houston Rockets – $1,819,625,555
- 17. Washington Wizards – $1,799,905,873
- 18. Minnesota Timberwolves – $1,795,282.080
- 19. San Antonio Spurs – $1,791,947,766
- 20. Orlando Magic – $1,789,341,467
- 21. Chicago Bulls – $1,787,071,739
- 22. Memphis Grizzlies – $1,779,431,315
- 23. Phoenix Suns – $1,779,321,736
- 24. Oklahoma City Thunder – $1,764,010,560
- 25. Detroit Pistons – $1,757,411,453
- 26. Indiana Pacers – $1,740,509,883
- 27. Utah Jazz – $1,738,541,252
- 28. Sacramento Kings – $1,679,352,036
- 29. Atlanta Hawks – $1,671,432,444
- 30. Charlotte Hornets – $1,599,546,320
As we rank every NBA team based on their total spending, we will take a look at how that spending has paid off in the form of NBA playoff appearances, Finals appearances, and NBA championships. Many have made the money worth it while others have been unable to cash in on their spending sprees.
1. Golden State Warriors – $2,080,834,500
Highest-Paid Season: $211.8 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 4
NBA Finals: 6
NBA Playoffs: 10
If there is any team who has made their extravagant spending pay off, it is the Golden State Warriors. Since 2004-05, the Warriors have advanced to the NBA playoffs 10 times, appeared in six NBA Finals, and taken home four NBA championships. Spending the most money of any team in the NBA is worth it when multiple championships are the result.
Of course, the Warriors made Stephen Curry the highest-paid player in the NBA for several years and the first player to earn $40 million in a single season as well as the first player to make $50 million in a single season, rewarding him with the largest contract in the 2010s, a $37.46 million deal in 2018-19.
The Warriors have had eight seasons in which they spent more than $100 million in one season as well as four seasons over $150 million. Money well spent if you ask me.
2. New York Knicks – $2,058,369,899
Highest-Paid Season: $161.4 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 0
NBA Playoffs: 5
Leave it to the New York Knicks to spend the second-most amount of money over the last two decades with nothing to show for it. The Knicks have spent nearly $2.1 billion since the 2004-05 season with not a single NBA title or Finals appearance to show for it. This is no surprise considering the Knicks have been throwing their money around irresponsibly since the days of their last final appearance in 1999, wasting money on such washed-up talents as Stephon Marbury, Latrell Sprewell, Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, and more.
3. Los Angeles Lakers – $2,035,296,481
Highest-Paid Season: $169.4 Million (2022-23)
NBA Championships: 3
NBA Finals: 4
NBA Playoffs: 11
Another team that has made their extravagant spending worth it is the Los Angeles Lakers. With their tradition of winning and bringing in superstar talent, it is no surprise that they have spent over $2.03 billion in the last two decades on stars such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Pau Gasol. The results have been tremendous with four NBA Finals appearances and three NBA championships in 2009, 2010, and 2020. In a market such as Los Angeles, the money will continue to come in. Now, it is just a matter of them spending it wisely and getting back to their winning ways.
4. Dallas Mavericks – $2,024,743,718
Highest-Paid Season: $177.2 Million (2022-23)
NBA Championships: 1
NBA Finals: 2
NBA Playoffs: 14
Over the last two decades, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has not been shy when it comes to spending what the team needs to win. With two NBA Finals appearances and one NBA championship, you could say the spending has paid off. During their first Finals appearance in 2006, Dallas spent $98.45 million, the second-highest payroll in the NBA but fell short in the Finals. Five seasons later, their third-highest payroll in the NBA at $85.4 million went on to win an NBA championship for the first time led by Dirk Nowitzki who earned $17.3 million and was the 12th-highest-paid player in the NBA.
5. Miami Heat – $1,994,578,596
Highest-Paid Season: $181.7 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 3
NBA Finals: 5
NBA Playoffs: 15
The Miami Heat, led by executive Pat Riley and Owner Micky Arison, have built an empire in South Beach with their deep pockets and knowledge of the game. By bringing in stars such as Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Jimmy Butler among others, Miami has left no stone unturned to keep their winning culture alive.
In 2006, the Heat captured their first NBA championship led by Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal with the 15th-highest payroll in the NBA at $60.7 million. In their championship seasons in 2012 and 2014, Miami boasted payrolls that ranked in the top 10 at over $75 million thanks to the presence of their Big 3 with Wade, James, and Bosh.
6. Los Angeles Clippers – $1,976,810.427
Highest-Paid Season: $202.1 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 0
NBA Playoffs: 11
The Los Angeles Clippers are one of the teams still searching for their first NBA championship but that doesn’t mean they haven’t tried, spending $1.97 billion since 2004-05 in their pursuit. After a significant playoff drought in the 2000s, the Clippers opened up their checkbooks during the 2010s to form the “Lob City” team featuring Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. Unfortunately, that team never advanced past the second round of the playoffs.
In 2019, they opened up their checkbooks once again to bring in the dynamic duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard under new team owner Steve Ballmer. Unfortunately, that has only resulted in one Conference Finals appearance in 2021 with injuries derailing their investment to this point. With a payroll of over $200 million in 2023-24 and a roster featuring four future Hall of Famers, this could finally be the year that their fortunes change forever.
7. Boston Celtics – $1,954,860,643
Highest-Paid Season: $185.6 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 1
NBA Finals: 3
NBA Playoffs: 16
As one of the winningest franchises in NBA history with 17 championships under their belt, the Boston Celtics have been no stranger to throwing their money around. Since 2004-05, they have spent $1.95 billion to get the job done. During the 2000s, the Celtics changed the game forever, building a Big 3 of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. With the sixth-highest payroll in 2007-08 at $74.5 million, the Celtics captured their first NBA title since 1986 thanks to their newly-formed Big 3.
Since that time, the Celtics have spent $1.7 billion with just two Finals appearances and zero NBA championships to show for it. This past summer, the Celtics showed they were still willing to spend big to give their fans what they long for, giving Jaylen Brown the largest contract in NBA history worth $304 million over five years. Only time will tell if the move will pay off.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers – $1,954,748,822
Highest-Paid Season: $164.9 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 1
NBA Finals: 5
NBA Playoffs: 10
Before 2007, the Cleveland Cavaliers had never appeared in the NBA Finals in the history of their franchise. Thanks to superstar LeBron James, that curse was lifted but the team continued to fall short of their ultimate goal with failure to spend and build a roster worthy of title contention around him.
In 2015, that all changed as the Cavaliers skyrocketed into the top three in the NBA in spending with a Big 3 of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love. Armed with the highest payroll in the NBA in 2016 at $100.3 million, the Cavaliers would finally capture their first NBA championships in one of the biggest upsets in NBA playoff history over the 73-win Golden State Warriors.
Over the next two seasons, the Cavaliers maintained their league-leading payroll but fell in the NBA Finals each time to the Warriors.
9. Brooklyn Nets – $1,931,894,292
Highest-Paid Season: $174.4 Million (2020-21)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 0
NBA Playoffs: 11
In the last two decades, the Brooklyn Nets have emerged as extravagant spenders in the NBA, shelling out $1.93 billion to give their fans a product worthy of justifying their move from New Jersey to Brooklyn. During this time, they spent money with no care for the repercussions on players such as Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden.
Despite all of that star power, the Nets have failed to even reach an NBA Finals let alone win an NBA championship. In 2021, the Nets spent the second-most amount of money in the NBA thanks to a Big 3 of Durant, Irving, and Harden with the results leading to the most disappointing Big 3 in NBA history and a second-round exit. The trio would disband less than one year later.
10. Portland Trail Blazers – $1,900,872,312
Highest-Paid Season: $161.5 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 0
NBA Playoffs: 11
With $1.9 billion spent since 2004-05, the Portland Trail Blazers have spent the 10th-most amount of money during that time with nothing to show for it. Even the loyalty of one of the NBA’s highest-paid point guards ever, Damian Lillard, was not enough to push them over the edge and into even an appearance in the NBA Finals.
The closest the team ever got to reaching the NBA Finals was in 201819 when they reached the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors, a series that ended in them being swept in four games. It wasn’t due to a lack of spending either as Portland had the sixth-highest payroll in the NBA at $130.3 million.
11. Milwaukee Bucks – $1,898,747,673
Highest-Paid Season: $188.9 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 1
NBA Finals: 1
NBA Playoffs: 11
The Milwaukee Bucks have only emerged as a top spender in the NBA since 2015 and the arrival of superstar/franchise cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo. Prior to Giannis’ arrival, the Bucks had only appeared in the NBA playoffs three times, all of which resulted in a first-round exit.
In 2021, Milwaukee decided to open up their checkbooks, and the Heat spent $136.4 million on a Big 3 featuring Giannis, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday. The result would be the team’s first NBA championship since 1971 and a blueprint for future contention. In 2023, they decided to make a franchise-altering move yet again, acquiring point guard Damian Lillard to pair with Giannis in a deal that made their payroll shoot up to $188.9 million, the fourth-highest in the NBA. Now, it is just a matter of time before we see if this was a smart business decision or not.
12. Toronto Raptors – $1,862,612,462
Highest-Paid Season: $166.1 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 1
NBA Finals: 1
NBA Playoffs: 10
The Toronto Raptors are another NBA franchise that entered their highest-spending era in the last two decades, resulting in their first championship in team history. Before the 2019 season, the Raptors had never even been to an NBA Finals which all changed when they acquired Kawhi Leonard heading into the 2018-19 season.
During their special championship run, Toronto sported the fourth-highest payroll in the NBA at $137.8 million, trailing only the Heat, Warriors, and Thunder. Kyle Lowry, Kawhi Leonard, Marc Gasol, and Serge Ibaka were all paid over $20 million for the season with Lowry having the fifth-highest contract in the NBA at $32.7 million for the season.
13. Philadelphia 76ers – $1,857,883,073
Highest-Paid Season: $173.9 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 0
NBA Playoffs: 11
The last two decades have been interesting, to say the least. for the Philadelphia 76ers and their fans. The team went through what was known as “The Process” and asked fans to be patient as they tanked in the regular season to build through the NBA Draft. Other than landing MVP Joel Embiid during this time, the 76ers have nothing to show for throwing away important regular seasons and being frugal when it came to spending.
Despite their rosters, the 76ers spent more than $150 million on their payroll just twice with both of those seasons coming in 2022-23 and 2023-24. Not only have they not been to an NBA Finals during this time but they haven’t even been past the second round of the playoffs since the 2001 NBA Finals which they lost to the Lakers. Maybe it’s time to start throwing some cheddar around if they want to get where they want to go.
14. Denver Nuggets – $1,831,806,635
Highest-Paid Season: $181.9 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 1
NBA Finals: 1
NBA Playoffs: 14
Before their magical run in 2022-23 to the NBA championship, the Denver Nuggets knew nothing but hope and simultaneous disappointment. Despite spending $1.83 billion in the last two decades, the Nuggets had advanced to just two Western Conference Finals before their 2023 championship win.
Led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets finally captured their first NBA title last season, armed with the sixth-highest payroll in the NBA at $188.9 million. Their highest earner would be Jokic who was the third-highest-paid player in the game at $47.6 million.
15. New Orleans Pelicans – $1,826,289.146
Highest-Paid Season: $171.1 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 0
NBA Playoffs: 6
The New Orleans Pelicans have failed to find much success over the last two decades despite their $1.83 billion in spending since 2004-05. The Pelicans have had their fair share of talent come through their doors during this time, including Chris Paul, Anthony Davis, Rajon Rondo, DeMarcus Cousins, and Zion Williamson.
The Pelicans have been steadily increasing their payroll since their inception as a franchise in 2002-03, spending over $100 million on players in each of their last eight seasons. During that time, they have reached the Semifinals just twice in the Western Conference playoffs. In 2018, they reached the second round of the playoffs with the sixth-highest payroll at $120.8 million. They did it in 2008 as well with the 22nd-highest payroll at $62.6 million.
16. Houston Rockets – $1,819,625,555
Highest-Paid Season: $147.3 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 0
NBA Playoffs: 12
The Houston Rockets have been in a championship drought since the mid-1990s when they still had Hakeem Olajuwon manning the paint for them and Clyde Drexler on the perimeter. The Rockets have spent $1.82 billion since 2004-05 without a single Finals appearance to brag about despite having an MVP player in James Harden leading the way for most of that time.
They did have their close run-ins with making the Finals, however, in 2015 and 2018. In 2015, they reached the Western Conference Finals with a $76.8 million roster featuring James Harden and Dwight Howard. They would reach the Western Conference Finals again in 2018 with a $119.9 million roster featuring James Harden and Chris Paul as well.
17. Washington Wizards – $1,799,905,873
Highest-Paid Season: $152.0 Million (2022-23)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 0
NBA Playoffs: 9
As we get to the bottom half of the list of highest-spending teams in the NBA since 2004-05, you will notice that despite the large amount of money spent by these teams, many have had minimal success on the court during that stretch. The Washington Wizards are no exception with their $1.8 billion payroll with zero Finals appearances and making the playoffs less than half the time.
During this time, their most promising stretch was when they made the backcourt duo of Bradley Beal and John Wall their highest-paid players, staking their future in the dynamic duo. Unfortunately, two losses in the Conference Semifinals is all they could muster despite payrolls that exceeded $100 million on eight different occasions.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves – $1,795,282.080
Highest-Paid Season: $164.6 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 0
NBA Playoffs: 3
Any time that a team spends $1.8 billion and only makes the playoffs three times in 20 years is a major problem. The Minnesota Timberwolves are the owners of that problem even though they haven’t been shy in investing in their stars. Karl-Anthony Towns signed one of the biggest contracts ever worth over $25 million per year in 2019. They also invested heavily in star power forward Kevin Garnett, making him one of the highest-paid players ever in the 2000s without a single appearance in the NBA Finals.
19. San Antonio Spurs – $1,791,947,766
Highest-Paid Season: $138.7 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 3
NBA Finals: 4
NBA Playoffs: 15
The San Antonio Spurs are the exception and not the rule when it comes to spending correlating with team success during the last two decades. Since 2004-05, the Spurs have won three NBA titles and appeared in four NBA Finals despite never having the league’s highest payroll. This was due to the unselfishness of their core of stars like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili.
While Duncan would be one of the highest-paid players ever, it took 20 years for him to reach the top 20 in that category. In their 2005 championship season, they had the 24th-highest payroll at $47.5 million. In 2007, they became NBA champions again with the eighth-highest payroll at $65.6 million. In 2014, they defeated the Miami Heat for their third championship in 10 seasons with the 19th-ranked payroll of $63.1 million as well. See? Money doesn’t always equate to NBA championships.
20. Orlando Magic – $1,789,341,467
Highest-Paid Season: $132.6 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 1
NBA Playoffs: 8
In the last 20 years, the Orlando Magic have experienced the highs and lows of being an NBA franchise. They have experienced more success than most, reaching the NBA Finals in 2009 while also experiencing some of the worst seasons in franchise history as well. It wasn’t for a lack of trying as they spent 1.78 billion trying to deliver the first championship in NBA history.
The Magic hit their peak for spending during the late 2000s, especially during their 2009 Finals run. Led by Dwight Howard, the Magic spent $69.6 million and nearly captured that NBA championship with the 15th-ranked payroll in the NBA. In the years that followed, the Magic had several seasons in which their payroll ranked in the top five but never matched the success of their 2009 team.
21. Chicago Bulls – $1,787,071,739
Highest-Paid Season: $165.3 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 0
NBA Playoffs: 12
Following their dominance of the 1990s, the Chicago Bulls entered a period in their franchise’s history that saw them cut costs at every turn. Their highest-paid stars during this time included Derrick Rose, Elton Brand, and Jimmy Butler who were all eventually moved in separate deals for various reasons, most of which could be tied to money.
Their most successful run during this time would come in 2011 when they advanced to the 2011 Conference Finals which they lost to the Miami Heat. During this run, they had just the 26th-highest payroll in the NBA at $54.5 million in total with their highest-paid players, Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng, making less than $15 million while also being the only two players making over $10 million on their entire roster.
22. Memphis Grizzlies – $1,779,431,315
Highest-Spending Season: $160.4 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 0
NBA Playoffs: 12
While they had some of the best regular seasons in franchise history in the last 20 years, the Memphis Grizzlies are still searching for their first trip to the NBA Finals. The closest they ever came to that feat would come in their “Grit and Grind” era during the 2010s. In 2013, they advanced to the Western Conference Finals with the 22nd-ranked payroll at $63.1 million. Zach Randolph was the only player earning over $15 million that season and Marc Gasol was the only other player on the roster earning over $10 million that season.
23. Phoenix Suns – $1,779,321,736
Highest-Paid Season: $188.9 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 1
NBA Playoffs: 8
Although the Phoenix Suns were one of the most exciting and offensively powered teams during the 2000s, the money they spent on their players is peanuts compared to the rest of the NBA since 2004-05. At $1.78 billion, the Suns rank 23rd in payroll in the last 20 seasons with only one appearance in the NBA Finals and zero championships to show for it.
During their 2021 run to the Finals, Phoenix ranked toward the bottom of the NBA in payroll at 22nd with $128.9 million. Now, in 2023-24, they have the third-highest payroll in the NBA at $188.9 million thanks to the over $130 million invested in their Big 3 of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. Even with their recent spending, a playoff spot is anything but guaranteed halfway into the season.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder – $1,764,010,560
Highest-Paid Season: $154.7 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 1
NBA Playoffs: 11
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the one franchise I would take a hard look at when trying to learn how to rebuild a franchise properly. After their success in the early 2010s with some of the highest payrolls in the NBA, the Thunder decided to stock up on draft picks and spend less on stars as they went with youth over experience.
That doesn’t mean the seasons they were successful in the 2010s weren’t special. In 2012, they advanced to their only NBA Finals under the Thunder nickname. During that season, they had the 21st-highest payroll in the NBA at $59.5 million with Kevin Durant as the only player earning over $15 million on the year. Russell Westbrook made just over $5 million at the time and James Harden was still on a rookie deal earning $4.6 million.
25. Detroit Pistons – $1,757,411,453
Highest-Paid Season: $139.5 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 1
NBA Playoffs: 7
Over the last two decades, the only successful time for the Pistons can be considered the period from 2005 through 2008. In those four seasons, the Pistons advanced to four straight Eastern Conference Finals and one NBA Finals after an NBA title in 2004. Since then, it has been nothing but misery even as the salary cap has increased along with their spending.
In 2005, their only appearance in the NBA Finals in 20 years, the Pistons had the 20th-highest payroll in the NBA at $54.7 million. Only four players earned over $5 million for that season with zero players making $10 million including Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, and Ben Wallace.
26. Indiana Pacers – $1,740,509,883
Highest-Paid Season: $138.2 Million (2021-22)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 0
NBA Playoffs: 11
The Indiana Pacers are another franchise still seeking their first NBA championship despite their $1.7 billion in spending. That doesn’t mean they haven’t come close, earning Eastern Conference Finals spots in 2013 and 2014. In 2013, led by Paul George, they ranked in the bottom half of the NBA in payroll with $66.1 million. The following season, they returned to the Conference Finals with a 15th-ranked payroll at $67.1 million. Even in their years as a franchise unwilling to spend, they remained competitive and contenders.
27. Utah Jazz – $1,738,541,252
Highest-Paid Season: $149.8 Million (2021-22)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 0
NBA Playoffs: 11
The Utah Jazz are still seeking their first appearance in the NBA Finals since the days of John Stockton and Karl Malone in 1998. With $1.74 billion in spending in the last 20 years, the only time they ever truly came close to that being a reality was the 2007 Western Conference Finals. In 2007, the Jazz needed just a $62.4 million payroll to earn that spot compared to the eventual NBA champions San Antonio Spurs’ $70.1 million payroll that season.
28. Sacramento Kings – $1,679,352,036
Highest-Paid Season: $151.3 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 0
NBA Playoffs: 3
Along with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Sacramento Kings are the only team on this list to spend over $1.6 billion and make the NBA playoffs just three times in 20 seasons. The Kings’ time since 2004-05 also includes a playoff drought of 17 seasons from 2006 until 2022-23. The last time the Kings were truly competitive was in 2002 when they went to the Western Conference Finals. Even then, the Kings needed just $54.9 million in payroll to earn that spot which at the time was just the ninth-highest payroll in the NBA.
29. Atlanta Hawks – $1,671,432,444
Highest-Paid Season: $158.5 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 0
NBA Playoffs: 13
The Atlanta Hawks are currently haunted by a 66-year championship drought that shows no signs of stopping even in 2023-24. In the last 20 seasons, they have done little to add some hydration to that drought, spending just $1.67 billion in salaries. The Hawks have made their runs that fell just short of getting back to the NBA Finals, however.
In 2015, they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals needing only the fifth-lowest payroll in the NBA at $58.3 million led by Al Horford’s $12 million contract. In 2021, they went back to the Conference Finals with the sixth-lowest payroll in the NBA at $118.8 million led by Danilo Gallinari’s $19.5 million and star Trae Young making just $6.57 million while doing most of the heavy lifting.
30. Charlotte Hornets – $1,599,546,320
Highest-Paid Season: $133.6 Million (2023-24)
NBA Championships: 0
NBA Finals: 0
NBA Playoffs: 3
When it comes to spending in the NBA since 2004-05, no team has spent less than the Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats. They are the only team to spend less than $1.6 billion during this time and they surely got what they paid for. They have only reached the playoffs three times since 2004-05 and all three of those appearances resulted in first-round exits. For most of this time, the Hornets either had the lowest payroll in the NBA or ranked in the top five.
