With the arrival of the new NBA broadcasting contract, the contracts of stars are getting bigger and bigger. Contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars are no longer rare. However, there are still many premium contracts in the current league. The team management has misjudged the personal abilities of the stars. The highest paid player this season is Stephen Curry, who earns nearly 56 million a year. Judging from Curry’s performance this season, his contract seems to be a bit premium. Curry can only get 23 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. The data has declined seriously compared with previous years, and the team’s record is also average. Of course, considering Curry’s influence in the league, after all, he is also the number one core contributor of the Warriors dynasty, a representative of one man and one city. It is no problem for the Warriors to offer Curry a super contract with a maximum salary.
Among the stars with salaries above 50 million USD this season, there are four others besides Curry, namely Jokic, Embiid, Durant and Beal. The first three are all OK, but Beal is indeed a bit conspicuous here. According to Beal’s personal performance, he is not even in the top 20 in the league. He only averages 17.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. His attendance rate is not high and there are hidden dangers of injuries. In 2022, the Wizards dared to offer him a super-max contract. At that time, Beal was at his peak and averaged 30+ points per game for two consecutive seasons. Unfortunately, after joining the Suns, Beal had to make sacrifices. After all, the Suns still had Booker and Durant, two top scoring points. It was not reasonable for the Suns to trade for Beal and form a Big Three. The lineup was not compatible, and this could not be entirely blamed on Beal.
After Bill, the biggest premium contract must go to Zach LaVine of the Bulls. LaVine has not changed teams in the past few years, and the team’s lineup configuration has been getting better and better, but LaVine’s team record and personal ability have continued to decline. This season, LaVine is only 29 years old, and athletes are at their peak age, but his combat effectiveness is no longer as good as before. LaVine started to go downhill as soon as he signed the maximum salary contract. In the 20-21 season, he averaged 27.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of 50.7% and a three-point shooting percentage of 41.9%. His output and efficiency were both the best in the league. In the summer of 22, the Bulls offered him a 5-year, $215 million maximum salary contract, which was well deserved at the time. However, in the 22-23 season, LaVine’s average score dropped to 24.8 points per game, and he failed to lead the team into the playoffs.
In the 23-24 season, LaVine suffered a Waterloo. He was plagued by injuries and played only more than 20 regular season games before the season was written off. He averaged only 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. His shooting percentage dropped to 45.2% and his three-point shooting percentage was 34.9%. Although LaVine debuted as a dunk contest champion and his athletic ability is unquestionable, his strength is actually average and he lacks confrontation in the game. After becoming the core of the team, his scoring method is mainly based on shooting. Once his shooting percentage drops, it is difficult to reach the level of star data. In addition, LaVine’s playing style is also a sharp scorer. He is not a good passer who can lead his teammates. He needs a ball-controlling brain to lead him. The Bulls originally had such a person, that is Ball, but Ball is also a glass man and has suffered many injuries in recent years.
Since Ball was injured and absent, LaVine has also been affected and started to decline. This season, LaVine’s annual salary is 43 million US dollars, ranking 17th in the league. His average data has improved compared to last season. He can get 21.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists. His efficiency has also improved, but the Bulls have lost trust in him and do not think he can lead the team to achieve a new breakthrough. The competition pressure in the Eastern Conference this season is not great, but the Bulls are only 12 wins and 15 losses and rank 9th in the East. Earlier, the Bulls made it clear that they have opened a team supermarket and all core players can be traded, including LaVine, Vucevic, and Ball. But in the words of an ESPN reporter, although Zach LaVine’s efficiency this season has reached the best of his career, no team has shown interest in trading LaVine.
“LaVine’s contract is likely one of the reasons why other team managements avoid him in trade negotiations. Because his salary this season is $43 million, and he will receive $45.6 million in the 25-26 season. The two-time All-Star has another $48.9 million salary in the 26-27 season, with a player option.” Indeed, LaVine’s big contract will end in more than two seasons, and other teams are unwilling to take it over. 43 million US dollars in one year! The biggest garbage contract in the NBA, which was publicly traded, should have been disbanded long ago. To be honest, the Bulls’ lineup in the past few years was definitely not bad, with the All-Star Big Three of LaVine, Vucevic and DeRozan, not counting the injured Ball brother Ball, but during this period they have been hovering on the edge of the playoffs. It can only be said that the Big Three is not compatible and has not achieved results. DeRozan left the team to join the Kings one step earlier, and LaVine and Vucevic are not far from leaving the team.
