Ranking The Most Expensive NBA Teams For The 2023-24 Season

• The Los Angeles Clippers are hopeful their spending finally pays off

• The Denver Nuggets might have a perfectly constructed roster

• Stephen Curry is the league’s top-paid player

Buying talent doesn’t always mean that it turns into an NBA championship. Last season, the top five payrolls in the NBA were the Clippers, Warriors, Bucks, Celtics, and Mavericks paid for top-tier talent in the league. None of these teams made the NBA Finals. Instead, it was the Denver Nuggets (8th) and the Miami Heat (13th) that made the championship with the Nuggets taking it all. 

Granted, the Warriors were the most expensive team in 2022 and danced their way to their fourth championship in eight seasons. The NBA is a business and investing in players is part of the game. Sometimes, those players pan out while others turn into a bust. As we went through the 2023-24 season, the top five teams spending money are going all in on their championship bids. Will history repeat itself from two years ago or will other teams spending money more conservatively make the jump?

Here are the most expensive teams for the 2023-24 season.

30. Indiana Pacers – $130,206,705

The five most expensive players:

1. Bruce Brown – $22,000,000

2. Myles Turner – $20,975,000

3. Buddy Hield – $19,279,841

4. Daniel Theis – $9,108,841

5. TJ McConnell – $8,700,000

Will this be another season where we speculate on the futures of Turner and Hield? Turner has one more year on his contract after this season but is the best rim protector on the market if that is the case. Hield is a free agent after this season and could be a key rental on the market thanks to his shooting. Both Brown and Thies have team options after this season. This could be a year where the cheapest team in the league gets even cheaper.

That will certainly help next year when Tyrese Haliburton’s contract extension starts. The $35.7 million starting salary will begin next season. For now, the All-Star’s $5.8 million salary is a bargain. Unfortunately, the Pacers are not going to be very competitive unless something drastic changes.

29. Charlotte Hornets – $135,169,593

The five most expensive players

1. Gordon Hayward – $31,500,000

2. Terry Rozier – $23,205,221

3. PJ Washington – $16,847,826

4. LaMelo Ball – $10,900,635

5. Brandon Miller – $10,880,364

If it gives you an indication of where the Hornets are right now, Miller’s top-five team salary for a player who hasn’t played a single NBA game yet should be a clue. At last, the disastrous Hayward contract is off of the books after this season. The Hornets will have the cap room invested into Ball’s contract where his $37 million salary begins next season.

The $27 million salary increase for Ball is justified as the team’s true lone All-Star caliber player. Paired with Miller, the two are the hope of the future. Could Miles Bridges be a part of that future? Bridges is on a one-year, $7.9 million contract to prove if he can still hang in the league after a year out due to legal trouble.

28. Orlando Magic – $137,365,215

The five most expensive players

1. Jonathan Isaac – $17,400,000

2. Markelle Fultz – $17,000,000

3. Wendell Carter – $13,050,000

4. Gary Harris – $13,000,000

5. Paolo Banchero – $11,608,080

The highest-paid player on the team last season played a total of 11 games. Since the 2019-20 season, Isaac has played just a total of 44 games. With another $17 million for next year, this contract is not ideal for the Magic. If the Magic can find someone to take Isaac’s contract, which is unlikely, the salary relief for next year is shining bright.

The Magic could have a payroll as low as $44.2 million before team options are exercised. With the expectation of the team options being used on Panchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs, the team could have just $72 million. Both Fultz and Harris are free agents after this season. Neither have proven to be players of the future for the rebuilding Magic.

27. San Antonio Spurs – $137,841,501

The five most expensive players

1. Keldon Johnson – $20,000,000

2. Doug McDermott – $13,750,000

3. Victor Wembanyama – $12,160,632

4. Devonte Graham – $12,100,000

5. Reggie Bullock – $10,489,600

If you land the No. 1 overall pick, the payroll better not be that high. That is the case for the Spurs, who landed Victor Wembanyama in the 2023 NBA Draft. The third-highest player hasn’t scored his first true points yet, but he has made San Antonio as excited as when the team drafted Tim Duncan years ago.

For now, both Johnson and Wemby are part of the foreseeable future. The team would love to move McDermott and Bullock’s expiring contracts this trade deadline. Graham has just one more year of $12 million on his deal and then he is out. Only Johnson, Wembanyama, Graham, Tre Jones, Julian Champagnie, and Sidy Cissoko have a guaranteed contract for next year, totaling their early 2024 offseason payroll at $58 million.

26. Utah Jazz – $142,062,771

The five most expensive players

1. John Collins – $25,340,000

2. Jordan Clarkson – $23,487,629

3. Collin Sexton – $17,325,000

4. Lauri Markkanen – $17,259,999

5. Kelly Olynyk – $11,020,000

There were times when the Jazz looked competitive but, in reality, this team was always rebuilding. Trading away Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell last season was a signal of that; however, Lauri Markkanen’s All-Star form was an enlightening steal of last year’s payroll. Both Sexton and Collins have shown All-Star potential while Clarkson is a former Sixth Man of the Year. There is talent on this roster which gives fans a feeling of hope for a .500 season while also maintaining all of their draft capital.

All eyes will be on Collins to start the year though. Collins already has drawn scrutiny over his contract, which pays him $52 million the next two years if he picks up the option in 2025-26. Collins has given All-Star glimpses but has slugged during the season as well. The pairing of Collins and Markkanen sounds great on paper, but will it live up to standards? More importantly, can Collins live up to being the highest-paid player on this team?

25. Washington Wizards – $144,653,719

The five most expensive players

1. Jordan Poole – $27,955,357

2. Kyle Kuzma – $25,568,182

3. Tyus Jones – $14,000,000

4. Daniel Gafford – $12,402,000

5. Landry Shamet – $10,250,000

In the last few years, the Wizards had the likes of Bradley Beal, Russell Westbrook, and Kristaps Porzingis. Now, those massive contracts are no longer with the team. Instead, the team has repurposed those funds into Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma. Both have shown flashes of All-Star status, but the trading of Beal this offseason signified the Wizards are likely going to be pretty bad for a few years.

Both Poole and Kuzma are locked in with the team through the 2026-27 season. The draft capital that the Wizards use building around these players will be the future of the franchise. We should expect this Wizards payroll to continue to be near the bottom, while the focus will be on Poole’s eventual $30 million salary and his statistics.

24. Detroit Pistons – $145,370,083

The five most expensive players

1. Bojan Bogdanovic – $20,000,000

2. Joe Harris – $19,929,571

3. Marvin Bagley – $12,119,440

4. James Wiseman – $12,119,440

5. Cade Cunningham – $11,055,360

The Pistons have significant financial flexibility after this season. The Pistons payroll will drop to $60 million once the contracts of Harris, Alec Burks, and Monte Morris are off. The team will have a $13.9 million team option for Cunningham, which will likely be exercised on the former No. 1 overall pick. The combination of Cunningham and Jaden Ivey is on an affordable combined $18 million this season.

Questions around Bogdanovic will remain as the team’s best assets have one more year on his contract. Assuming the 20-point-per-game scorer can get trade interest, it might be in Detroit’s interest to trade him. The team will then need to decide if they want to invest in former No. 2 overall pick Wiseman after this season as well. Either way, with youth and flexibility, the Pistons could start turning the page toward being competitive in the next few years if these draft picks pan out.

23. Oklahoma City Thunder – $149,117,022

The five most expensive players

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – $33,386,850

2. Davis Bertans – $17,000,000

3. Luguentz Dort – $15,277,778

4. Chet Holmgren – $10,386,000

5. Victor Oladipo – $9,450,000

The Thunder have options right now. The team could buy in or continue to build up their core of players. But, eventually, the team has to start winning games. With all the draft capital this team owns, the team could buy at the trade deadline. The deal for Bertans features a $16 million player’s option for next year. Meanwhile, Oladipo, Ousmane Dieng, Jalen Williams, and Tre Mann all have team options for next year. With the likelihood that the Thunder use their team options on Holmgren and Josh Giddey next year, who is the superstar player to pair along their core?

Pascal Siakam is an interesting name to keep an eye on. The Thunder has a low payroll and will have $92 million in salary for the books next season. The team has house money contracts for both Holmgren and Giddey for the moment. The only major commitment is to their All-Star in Gilgeous-Alexander who has proven he is worth this type of investment.

22. Sacramento Kings – $152,125,650

The five most expensive players

1. De’Aaron Fox – $32,600,060

2. Domantas Sabonis – $30,600,000

3. Harrison Barnes – $17,000,000

4. Kevin Huerter – $15,669,643

5. Malik Monk – $9,945,830

For the first time in a long time, don’t sleep on the Kings making a deep run this year. This payroll is so favorable for the team right now. The $11 million salary increase for Sabonis doesn’t start until next season. Sabonis, Fox, Barnes, and Huerter are locked in for three more seasons with respectable salaries. Combine that with the team-friendly deal for Keegan Murray, who has two team options after this year, the Kings could be buyers in February.

The team is going to hopefully get a large return from Malik Monk ($9.9 million) who is playing for a big contract this season. Davion Mitchell ($5.0 million) is a solid defensive backup, while Chris Duarte ($4.1 million) is a solid shooter off of the bench for the amount he is getting paid. The Kings pushed the Warriors to seven games last year and held a 2-0 lead. Another year to get better and with financial flexibility make the Kings an intriguing dark horse.

21. Houston Rockets – $154,680,883

The five most expensive players

1. Fred VanVleet – $40,806,300

2. Dillon Brooks – $22,627,671

3. Kevin Porter Jr. – $15,860,000

4. Jalen Green – $9,891,480

5. Jeff Green – $9,600,000

The top two players paid on this team were brought in during the offseason. VanVleet is making the most money in NBA history for an undrafted player. Meanwhile, Brooks will have to prove he is worth the money after a falling out with the Grizzlies. With these two veterans combined with a young core of Jalen Green and Jabari Smith, the Rockets are hopeful to make a run to the playoffs for the first time post-James Harden.

The core was supposed to feature Kevin Porter Jr., but his legal troubles could lead to not playing in the NBA ever again. The question about his contract is fair. Porter is owed roughly $47 million this year and the following two seasons with a team option set for 2026-27. Given that the Rockets still have cap room to spare, the Rockets could splurge next season if this core produces at a high rate.

20. Memphis Grizzlies – $155,818,176

The five most expensive players

1. Ja Morant – $34,005,250

2. Jaren Jackson Jr. – $27,102,202

3. Marcus Smart – $18,583,713

4. Luke Kennard – $14,763,636

5. Steven Adams – $12,600,000

A small market team has to play it smart when constructing a team. A smart move, no pun intended, was acquiring Marcus Smart. The former Defensive Player of the Year is going to be a great fit next to Ja Morant. Despite a problematic year for Morant, many believe that Morant is going to flourish when he returns from his 25-game suspension. Having great veterans like Smart and Steven Adams around certainly helps.

Resigning Brandon Clark was a must and for the $12.5 million salary, it was a great fit for both sides. The team might have dodged a bullet by avoiding investing $22 million into Dillon Brooks when he was spiraling his way out of the door. The Grizzlies could be a dark horse for a superstar at the trade deadline given their financial situation.

19. Portland Trail Blazers – $160,432,003

The five most expensive players

1. Deandre Ayton – $32,459,438

2. Jerami Grant – $27,586,207

3. Anfernee Simons – $24,107,143

4. Malcolm Brogdon – $22,500,000

5. Robert Williams – $11,571,429

It was finally time for the Trail Blazers to move on from Damian Lillard. The haul back was sizeball as the team has a young, talented center in the former No. 1 overall pick in Ayton. Robert Williams and Ayton could be a great value version of the Twin Towers or a solid one-two punch in the defensive rotation. Pair that with their two best young players in Shaedon Sharpe ($6.3 million) and Scoot Henderson ($9.7 million), it’s a solid core moving forward.

Brogdon is not likely going to stay for long. After dealing with Jrue Holiday for Brogdon and Williams, Portland will try to find a partner that can offer some sort of package. If that is not the case, Brogdon can hold the fort down until Henderson is ready to play sizable minutes. Getting rid of the money owed to Lillard was the right move. Portland was not going to contend and Milaukee’s window is now. In the end, these moves still make Portland a solid team with a great foundation that has some light at the end of the tunnel for the next three seasons.

18. Atlanta Hawks – $160,626,905

The five most expensive players

1. Trae Young – $40,064,220

2. Clint Capela – $20,616,000

3. De’Andre Hunter – $20,089,286

4. Bogdan Bogdanovic – $18,700,000

5. Dejounte Murray – $18,214,000

In a way, the Hawks are getting a bargain season because Murray will shoot up to being the second-highest-paid player next season. His new contract extension that will pay him about $25 million in his first season will be a $7 million increase from the previous year. With that said, the Hawks knew what they were getting into when they acquired the All-Star guard last offseason. Combined with Young’s $40 million salary, the Hawks will be paying $58 million in All-Star guards this season.

The Hawks core will remain together this season and next season pending if there are no trades. Young, Hunter, Bogdanovic, and Murray are all under contract through the 2025-26 season. Capela will be a free agent after the 2024-25 season, while Onyeka Okongwu could receive a qualifying offer to remain with the Hawks after this season.

17. Brooklyn Nets – $162,656,287

The five most expensive players

1. Ben Simmons – $37,893,408

2. Cameron Johnson – $25,679,348

3. Mikal Bridges – $21,700,000

4. Spencer Dinwiddie – $20,357,143

5. Dorian Finney-Smith – $13,932,008

Remember when the Nets had to deal with the salaries of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden? There was a time when we talked about how the Nets were going to make it work by resigning all of these players. That time seems like forever ago, but it was within the last few years.

Simmons, Johnson, Dinwiddie, and Finney-Smith are not just the five highest-paid players on the team. The group is also the true consolation prize, along with draft capital, for those trades. The Nets have only two more years left of the Simmons deal with the $40 million salary for next year being the final year. With Johnson and Bridges held as core players for the future, the salary relief in a few years could once again give the Nets a chance to contend down the road.

16. New Orleans Pelicans – $168,130,661

The five most expensive players

1. CJ McCollum – $35,802,469

2. Zion Williamson – $34,005,250

3. Brandon Ingram – $33,833,400

4. Jonas Valanciunas – $15,435,000

5. Herb Jones – $12,015,150

This is the fifth season that Zion Williamson will be playing in the NBA. When healthy, he is a dominant player. But, since entering the league in 2019, Williamson has played just 114 games. It’s a valid question wondering if Williamson is worth the contract he has been given. For his career, Williamson owns an average of 25.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and a shooting percentage of 60.5%. With that said, he has played over 60 games in a season one time.

Williamson, McCollum, and Ingram are all $30 million players that can be All-Star caliber players. When Williamson was healthy, the Pelicans were flirting for a top-tier position in the Western Conference. The team has solid role players in Herb Jones, Larry Nance Jr. ($10,375,00), and Trey Murphy ($3.3 million). Meanwhile, if things go sour, the Pelicans have the expiring contracts of Jonas Valanciunas and Cody Zeller ($3.3 million).

15. Minnesota Timberwolves – $168,471,106

The five most expensive players

1. Rudy Gobert – $41,000,000

2. Karl-Anthony Towns – $36,016,200

3. Mike Conley – $24,360,000

4. Anthony Edwards – $13,534,817

5. Naz Reid – $12,950,400

After acquiring the expensive Rudy Gobert for a large pile of draft picks, the season didn’t go the way the team had hoped. Fans are panicking fast because Gobert and Towns are going to be worth a combined $95 million. The massive extension for Edwards also kicks in next season. Over $100 million will be committed to these three players and a first-round playoff appearance is all the team has to show for it.

The ceiling for the team is a question mark. The second year of Gobert, Towns, and Edwards will be studied all season, especially with the dollar amounts attached to their name. The team doesn’t have much financial flexibility over the next few years either. This core is either going to rebound well or it could be a catastrophic failure.

14. Toronto Raptors – $169,719,693

The five most expensive players

1. Pascal Siakam – $37,893,408

2. Jakob Poeltl – $20,000,000

3. OG Anunoby – $18,642,857

4. Gary Trent Jr. – $18,560,000

5. Dennis Schroeder – $12,405,000

This is the final year of the massive deal signed by Siakam years ago. The All-Star could be brought back after this season but could be a tradable asset. Given that Siakam’s salary is about 20% of the team’s total payroll, the Raptors could shed some serious payroll if the team could get some draft capital in return. Trent is in a similar situation as Siakam as his contract expires after this season as well.

In 26 games, Poeltl impressed by averaging 13.1 points and 9.1 rebounds. That was enough for the team to lock in $80 million over four years. Easily, the best players on this team are Anunoboy, Chris Boucher, and Scottie Barnes and they are all underpaid in comparison to everyone else.

13. New York Knicks – $169,995,189

The five most expensive players

1. Julius Randle – $28,226,880

2. Jalen Brunson – $26,346,666

3. RJ Barrett – $23,883,929

4. Evan Fournier – $18,857,143

5. Mitchell Robinson – $15,681,818

The sunk cost of the Fournier contract has to hurt. Fournier played 27 games last season and averaged 6.1 points. That is not the type of production you want from the fourth-highest-paid player on the team. Getting a trade partner will be tough, but the light at the end of the tunnel is that Fournier’s final year of his contract is a team option. It could be used as a salary dump to help the Knicks buy a player midway through the year.

The trio of Randle, Brunson, and Barrett should be locked together as the top three highest-paid players for the next three years. The same goes for Robinson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo. The Knicks’ upper middle-tier payroll is respectable, but it feels like the team is missing that one big salary player from taking the team to the next level of championship contenders.

12. Chicago Bulls – $170,673,860

The five most expensive players

1. Zach LaVine – $40,064,220

2. DeMar DeRozan – $28,600,000

3. Lonzo Ball – $20,465,117

4. Nikola Vucevic – $18,518,519

5. Coby White – $11,111,111

How hard is it being a Bulls fan these days you might ask? The second-highest-paid player on the team is likely going to be traded before the season is over. The third-highest-paid player hasn’t played since the early months of 2022. Meanwhile, Patrick Williams is set for an extension next season and his up-and-down play has created a debate about how much he is truly worth.

Being in purgatory is the worst for an NBA fan. With fans already frustrated at LaVine’s $40 million salary and mediocre pay, the next three years for the Bulls have so much fog around them. The Bulls were the No. 10 seed last year and have rough financial commitments this season and next.

11. Los Angeles Lakers – $171,279,607

The five most expensive players

1. LeBron James – $47,607,350

2. Anthony Davis – $40,600,080

3. D’Angelo Russell – $17,307,693

4. Rui Hachimura – $15,740,741

5. Austin Reaves – $12,015,150

Despite the Lakers paying a combined $87 million to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the team remains on the outside of the top 10 in payrolls. A lot of that has to do with the fairly cheap contracts of Russell, Hachimura, and Reaves. All three could potentially make more elsewhere but feel like they can contend with the Lakers.

Gabe Vincent is another player who could probably have made $5 million more like his former teammate Max Strus but appears to have taken a discount to go to the Lakers. Vincent’s $10 million salary, as well as the $4.6 million of Jarred Vanderbilt and $2.7 million to Christian Wood, could be big-time steals for the team.

10. Cleveland Cavaliers – $173,458,556

The five most expensive players

1. Darius Garland – $34,005,250

2. Donovan Mitchell – $33,162,030

3. Jarrett Allen – $20,000,000

4. Caris LeVert – $15,384,616

5. Max Strus – $14,487,684

After the sharp-shooting season Strus had, the Cavaliers believe he is worth being paid like a top-five player on the team. With two more years of house money for Evan Mobley, it wasn’t the worst decision this offseason. Speaking of house money, looking around the league, a low $30 million for Donovan Mitchell, a possible top 10 player in the league last season, is a steal.

Mitchell has a player’s option for 2025-26 that he could decline if he keeps up his All-Star caliber play. For now, two more seasons of this All-Star caliber backcourt of Garland and Mitchell for a combined $77 is expensive but necessary. The frontcourt of Allen and Mobley is just $28 million combined. That price and defense is a steal in the league.

9. Dallas Mavericks – $174,483,235

The five most expensive players

1. Luka Doncic – $40,064,220

2. Kyrie Irving – $37,037,037

3. Tim Hardaway Jr. – $17,897,728

4. Grant Williams – $12,405,000

5. Richaun Holmes – $12,046,020

Considering that the Mavericks are spending the same amount of money on their backcourt as the Cavaliers ($77 million), it’s not that bad on paper. It comes down to perspective. As a fan, would you rather have Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell or Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving? On paper, the combination of Doncic and Irving is superior but it has not yielded the results that we thought it would.

The Mavericks are star-studded at the top with their role players supplemented throughout. Williams was brought to the team via sign and trade and will command a respectable salary in comparison to Maxi Kleber ($11 million). The Mavericks aren’t that far off from their Conference Finals appearance. With the salary schedule set, have the Mavericks made the right moves?

8. Boston Celtics – $184,586,593

The five most expensive players

1. Jrue Holiday – $36,861,707

2. Kristaps Porzingis – $36,016,200

3. Jayson Tatum – $32,600,060

4. Jaylen Brown – $31,830,357

5. Derrick White – $18,357,143

It’s pretty wild when the two most expensive players on the team are players the Celtics acquired in the offseason. Recently, the Celtics made a trade to acquire Holiday, which made him the most expensive player on the team. Meanwhile, the $36 million owed to Porzingis is the second most, but his salary drops to $29 million and $30 million the following two seasons.

Brown’s new contract extension, the one that pays him $52.1 million in salary, takes effect next season. Right now, both Brown and Tatum are combined for $68 million. That’s a heckuva deal for potentially two of the top 20 players in the league. Assuming that Holiday picks up his $39 million player’s option for next year, this core will be together for the 2024-25 season as well.

7. Philadelphia 76ers – $184,876,704

The five most expensive players

1. Joel Embiid – $47,607,350

2. Tobias Harris – $39,270,150

3. James Harden – $35,640,000

4. PJ Tucker – $11,014,500

5. De’Anthony Melton – 8,000,000

This is it for the 76ers. The championship window is closing fast because there are way more questions about the future of this team post-2024 than there is faith that this team is going to win a championship. Joel Embiid is locked in with the team through 2025-26 with a player’s option for the following year. However, both Harris and Harden are free agents after this season. If the team is floundering near the bottom of the standings, could the team try and trade both of these players?

Combining the offseason that James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers had regarding their relationship, it’s not a confident feeling about the investment made into this team. The 76ers will start paying Embiid over $50 million next season. Plus, there is speculation he could be traded. A big three that is paid a combined about $121 million, championship expectations are usually pretty high. With that said, how confident about the expectations are you if you are a fan of Philly?

6. Denver Nuggets – $185,281,681

The five most expensive players

1. Nikola Jokic – $47,607,350

2. Jamal Murray – $33,833,400

3. Michael Porter Jr. – $33,386,850

4. Aaron Gordon – $22,266,182

5. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – $14,704,938

The reigning NBA champions might have the best roster constructed and aren’t even a top-5 payroll in the league. The cheap contracts of Reggie Jackson ($5 million), Justin Holiday ($3.1 million), DeAndre Jordan ($3.1 million), Christian Braun ($2.9 million), and Peyton Watson ($2.3 million) are great surrounding pieces. Keep an eye on Jalen Pickett ($1.7 million), who could be a major contributor this year too.

The top five, which also make the starting lineup of this team, are as good as it gets. Nikola Jokic is potentially going to win the MVP this season. Murray and Porter bring a scoring presence that is worth a combined $66 million. Gordon was one of the most underrated defenders last year and should have made the All-Star Game while Caldwell-Pope shot 42% from three-point range. The loss of Bruce Brown hurt, but the Nuggets weren’t going to pay him $22 million. This team is going to be just fine if they stay healthy.

5. Miami Heat – $187,787,110

The five most expensive players

1. Jimmy Butler – $45,183,960

2. Bam Adebayo – $32,600,060

3. Kyle Lowry – $29,682,540

4. Tyler Herro – $27,000,000

5. Duncan Robinson – $18,154,000

If the team plays to their potential, this top-five payroll is not all that bad. Butler and Adebayo are the All-Star pair any team would want. The two have been instrumental in two NBA Finals appearances in the last four seasons. Herro, the former Sixth Man of the Year, is going to be paid like a superstar. Now, he has to stay healthy and mature to help the team get back to the Finals.

The two contracts in Lowry and Robinson could be very good or very bad this season. There is no in the middle because last year the combined $47 million was overshadowed thanks to the play of Gabe Vincent and Max Strus. Now, both players are gone, and the Heat will need these highly-paid players to live up to their contracts.

4. Phoenix Suns – $190,333,373

The five most expensive players

1. Kevin Durant – $47,649,433

2. Bradley Beal – $46,741,590

3. Devin Booker – $36,016,200

4. Jusuf Nurkic – $16,875,000

5. Grayson Allen – $6,250,000

How much is depth going to be an issue for this team? At the top, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker could be the best big three in the NBA. Essentially, Booker’s contract is only “team-friendly” this season. Next year, a combined $150 million will be tied to these three players as all three will be paid over $50 million a piece. The top four-highest paid players on this team are tied to the Suns for at least three seasons. Will the Suns make another appearance in the NBA Finals during this run?

Depth is going to be an issue because it’s hard to pay other players when a ton of money is invested into three guys. With that said, Eric Gordon ($3.1 million), Josh Okogie ($2.8 million), Keon Johnson ($2.8 million), and Bol Bol ($2.1 million) are all on team-friendly contracts. The superstars are shining bright but what happens if someone gets injured?

3. Milwaukee Bucks – $190,873,675

The five most expensive players

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo – $45,640,084

2. Damian Lillard – $45,640,084

3. Khris Middleton – $29,320,988

4. Brook Lopez – $25,000,000

5. Bobby Portis – $11,710,818

When a team has a top-three payroll, the expectation is the team will compete for a championship. That was already the expectation before the team acquired Damian Lillard. Now that the team has a duo that reminds old fans of the former legendary Bucks duo of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson, it’s championship or bust in Milwaukee.

In 2025-26, the Bucks will likely owe a combined $107 million to these two players. But, if the pair can lead the Bucks to a second championship in as many years, fans will be okay with that result. These top-five players are locked in together for this and next season. Could this expensive team bring a title to Milwaukee during that time frame?

2. Los Angeles Clippers – $197,274,133

The five most expensive players

1. Paul George – $45,640,084

2. Kawhi Leonard – $45,640,084

3. Norman Powell – $18,000,000

4. Marcus Morris – $17,116,279

5. Robert Covington – $11,692,308

Despite being the second-most expensive team, the Clippers could still be buyers. The window for the Clippers is closing fast. Both George and Leonard have player options for $48.7 million for next season. If this season does not go well, it’s not crazy to think that both players pass on the money and get a multi-year contract from another team. However, if that sense is smelt, the Clippers have moveable players on the team due to 10 players with expiring contracts. Maybe, this leads to the team cashing in on James Harden. 

The only players with a guaranteed contract for next year are Powell, Ivica Zubac, Terance Mann, Amir Coffey, and Kobe Brown. Marcus Morris, Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington, and Mason Plumlee are all playing on expiring contracts. If there is a player with a similar salary, any of these players could be used in a salary dump. Keep an eye out for Russell Westbrook, whose $3.8 million salary could be a major steal this season.

1. Golden State Warriors – $210,230,989

The five most expensive players

1. Stephen Curry – $51,915,615

2. Klay Thompson – $43,219440

3. Chris Paul – $30,800,000

4. Andrew Wiggins – $24,330,357

5. Draymond Green – $22,321,429

The most expensive team in the NBA is one of the greatest dynasties we have ever witnessed. The dynasty of Curry, Thompson, and Green has at least one more season together. Thompson’s contract expires after this season, so all eyes will be on his performance this year. With investments in Curry, Paul, Wiggins, and Green for next year, the team’s payroll will already be at $159 without Thompson.

The Warriors did what they thought was best for the team by hanging onto Green and trading away Poole. With Gary Payton II ($8.7 million), Kevon Looney ($7.5 million), Jonathan Kuminga ($6.0 million), and Moses Moody ($3.9 million) seen as the role players, it’s getting back to the roots of the 2022 championship team. Golden State has spent a ton of money in the last few years, but with four championships since 2015, it’s fair to say the investments have been worth it.