Who is the highest-paid NBA player on each team? Are teams spending their max contracts wisely like the Denver Nuggets with Nikola Jokic and the Los Angeles Lakers with LeBron James?
NBA teams have a limited amount of resources to build a championship team. The salary cap, Bird rights, max contracts, salary cap exceptions, two-way contracts, and veteran minimums to name a few.
To build a team capable of lifting the Larry O'Brien trophy, teams usually have to optimize almost all of these, with little margin for error for big market teams and practically zero margin for error for small market teams.
The NBA is also a star-driven league, making max contracts – or at least your franchise's highest-paid contract – easily the most important part of building a contender. While there are truly only a select few players in any given season – usually no more than 7-10 – worthy of a max contract, most NBA teams have at least one player signed to a max contract.
So, is your team getting fair value for their highest-paid player? Is he even your best or most important player? How were they acquired? Do they seem likely to be on your team this season and beyond?
Let's dive into that, for all 30 NBA teams.
Highest-paid player on the Atlanta Hawks in 2023: Trae Young
Trae Young was acquired by the Atlanta Hawks via a draft night trade with the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic in the 2018 NBA Draft. He is set to make $40,064,220 next season via a Designated Rookie Extension that began this season.
Given Young's immediate impact in the league, an All-Star appearance his sophomore year, an Eastern Conference Finals run in his third year, and an All-NBA selection in his fourth year, Young has drawn the ire of some due to the lack of team success over the past two season's.
Young will undoubtedly be the Hawks' best player next season and unless they can swing a trade for a player like Pascal Siakam, it's hard to see them advancing past the first round of the playoffs. If so, Young's future with Atlanta could be uncertain.
Highest-paid player on the Boston Celtics in 2023: Kristaps Porzingis
Unlike Young, Kristaps Porzingis is a new arrival for the Boston Celtics acquired via trade earlier this summer in a deal that saw Celtics' beloved former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart go to Memphis.
Porzingis is set to make $36,016,200 next season (Jaylen Brown's supermax extension will not begin until next season) and is coming off career highs in points per game (23.15) and true shooting percentage (.63).
His talent has rarely been questioned, but his relative health has always been in doubt. He appeared in 65 games for the Wizards next season, his highest total since 2017.
Can Porzingis stay healthy for Boston? Can he be as impactful as he was for the Wizards?
If so, is he the piece they've been missing? Al Horford is clearly not getting any younger, and his pick-and-roll drop defense fell off a cliff last season and so did his shooting in the playoffs.
Porzingis thrived in both those areas for the Wizards and the Celtics will be hoping for the same production.
Highest-paid player on the Brooklyn Nets in 2023: Ben Simmons
It is unintentionally poetic to be discussing Ben Simmons immediately after Young. Young, after all, is the defender who intimidated Simmons into a pass near the end of Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals.
Simmons never played for the Philadelphia 76ers again after that, and his rookie max extension contract was traded to the Brooklyn Nets alongside Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and draft equity for James Harden.
Simmons is due $37,893,408 this season and has another year left on this contract. He appeared in 42 games for the Nets last season after not featuring in any games the season before.
Thus, the big test for Simmons this season will be his ability to stay on the court.
Highest-paid player on the Charlotte Hornets in 2023: Gordon Hayward
Gordon Hayward remains the Hornets' highest-paid player until LaMelo Ball's rookie extension kicks in during the summer of 2024. The Hornets acquired him via sign-and-trade with the Boston Celtics in the summer of 2020.
Hayward has had health issues ever since his horrific injury on his Celtics debut, but even with the accompanying decline in athleticism, he has remained a useful player, averaging about 15 points per game over the last two seasons.
Hayward's contract is expiring, however. This means he could potentially be a valuable trade asset during the season. Charlotte is also staring down the barrel at potential extensions for PJ Washington and Miles Bridges, so either trading Hayward's contract or letting it expire this summer seems likely.
Highest-paid player on the Chicago Bulls in 2023: Zach LaVine
Zach LaVine is entering his seventh season with the Chicago Bulls and is set to make $40,064,220. The Bulls have made the playoffs one time since acquiring LaVine via a draft night trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
That's not to say that the lack of success has been his fault. Several variables – Lonzo Ball's knees being one of them – have contributed to their struggles.
But the Bulls do need to start asking themselves if they think this team is good enough to ever achieve anything of significance. If the answer is yes, how does LaVine fit into that equation? His contract runs until 2027 and while he has made two All-Star teams with the Bulls it wouldn't be wise to label him as someone worthy of being a franchise player.
If the answer is no, how quickly are you trading him? This season? For who? Tobias Harris' expiring, a Sixers first, and other stuff they get from a Harden trade?
What would that mean for the Bulls' future?
Regardless of where the Bulls actually stand, expect LaVine's name to remain in trade rumors throughout the season.
Highest-paid player on the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023: Darius Garland
The Cavaliers drafted Darius Garland four years ago and this season will be the beginning of Garland's rookie max extension where he'll make $34,005,250.
Garland and teammate Evan Mobley remain one of the most enticing young duos in the league and after trading for Donovan Mitchell last summer, it seemed like Cleveland was ready to win their first playoff series without LeBron James this century.
Unfortunately, the Cavaliers came up short and lost to the New York Knicks in five games. The test for Darius Garland this season will be whether or not he's good enough to lift this team to postseason success.
Highest-paid player on the Dallas Mavericks in 2023: Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic was acquired by the Dallas Mavericks via trade in the 2018 NBA draft and after just his rookie season he quickly rose to being a top-20 and now arguably top-5 player in the league.
Doncic is entering the second year of his rookie max extension and will make $40,064,220. This will be his first full season teaming up with Kyrie Irving and some are saying that Dallas is on the clock when it comes to Doncic.
If this season does not bring another deep postseason run, the Slovenian superstar could begin seeking pastures anew and put the Texas franchise in an incredibly difficult position.
Should Dallas have a successful season, Doncic will be at the core of it, and maybe even win MVP.
Highest-paid player on the Denver Nuggets in 2023: Nikola Jokic
Speaking of MVPs, NBA champion Nikola Jokic is set to make $47,607,350 as he and co-star, Jamal Murray, begin their quest to go back-to-back. Jokic is also one of two second-round picks on this list.
There's not much to say about Jokic. He's got two MVPs, aiming for his second championship, and is inarguably the best player in the NBA at the moment. He's awesome, Denver will be awesome again, and as long as they're healthy they should be title favorites.
Highest-paid player on the Detroit Pistons in 2023: Bojan Bogdanovic
Bojan Bogdanovic is easily the most surprising player on this list, but he is actually on a very good contract. He is owed $20,000,000 next season and around the same the following season, but only $2,000,000 of the final season is guaranteed.
The Pistons acquired Bogdanovic via trade last season for Kelly Olynyk and Saben Lee, and he played well, averaging a career-high 21.58 points per game while shooting 41% from three.
The Pistons are preparing for what is hopefully their first season with a fully healthy Cade Cunningham leading their young core that also includes Jalen Duren and 2023 draft pick Ausar Thompson.
The spacing provided by Bogdanovic and newly acquired Joe Harris will be critical to this team's overall success next season, and both players' contracts help the organization also maintain long-term flexibility.
Highest-paid player on the Golden State Warriors in 2023: Steph Curry
Steph Curry and the Warriors never truly found their footing last season. The Draymond Green-Jordan Poole incident provided a rough undercurrent that kept them on rocky waters and led to them losing in the second round to the LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers.
At the age of 35, Curry is owed $51,915,615 next season and the Warriors continue to keep all their chips in the middle as they aim to make another title run.
Poole was traded for Chris Paul, they drafted Brandin Podziemski from Santa Clara, signed Dario Saric, have Gary Payton II back for the full season, and will be looking at Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody to make strides.
Should this all work out nicely, the Warriors will perhaps be best positioned to dethrone Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
Highest-paid player on the Houston Rockets in 2023: Fred VanVleet
Fed Vanvleet may have been the biggest free agent signing of the summer. The Houston Rockets swooped the undrafted All-Star away from the Toronto Raptors with a 3-year/$129 million contract that will see him make $40,806,300.
Many have called it a bad contract, and it could be, but the third year is a team option for the Rockets and their young, wild, and free roster was in desperate need of a ball handler with real high-level NBA experience.
Sure, Vanvleet may not be worth nearly $41 million annually, but he does fill a considerable need for the Rockets and at a high level. Do he and their other essential offseason addition Dillon Brooks make the Rockets a playoff team? That's very unlikely.
But they make them better for now, and maybe that was the main short-term goal.
Highest-paid player on the Indiana Pacers in 2023: Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown, the other second-round pick on this list, is another guard who went out and got a bag this summer. He'll make $22,000,000 next season and should fit nicely with Tyrese Haliburton and Benedict Mathurin.
Brown had an up-and-down start to his NBA career, initially struggling to find a defined role with the Detroit Pistons and then carving out a niche as a very undersized four with the formerly star-powered Nets.
Last season, he of course played a pivotal role in the Nuggets championship. He's a basketball Swiss Army Knife, capable of isolating, running pick-and-roll as a ball handler and screener, a good cutter, a spot-up shooter, and more.
His functionality and overall improvement could be enough to help the Indiana Pacers make the play-in places and make them a must-watch League Pass team.
Highest-paid player on the Los Angeles Clippers in 2023: Paul Georgia
Four summers ago, Paul George teamed up with Kawhi Leonard in Los Angeles. He cost the Clippers Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, five first-round picks, and two pick swaps.
Since the two formed what many believed to be the strongest wing partnership in the league, they have both been healthy for one playoff run: the 2020 bubble where they blew a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets.
George is owed $45,640,084 for the next season and has a player option for the summer of 2024. There have been no reported serious extension talks.
George, Leonard, and the Clippers' future all depends on health. If the two of them can play, they might be a title contender. If they can't, which has been the case for three seasons now, they might not even make the playoffs in the West.
Highest-paid player on the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023: LeBron James
Los Angeles continues to be the Lakers and LeBron James' city. At 38, James continues to defy father time and perform at the level of a top 10 player in the league.
James will make $47,607,350 this season and if James and Anthony Davis can stay healthy they are certainly good enough to make a title run.
They re-signed D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura while adding Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, and Jaxson Hayes this summer.
But will this be James and the Lakers' last dance? The Akron native has made his desires clear in regards to playing with his son, who could enter next summer's NBA draft.
With a player option in his contract, this truly could be James' last season with the Lakers.
Highest-paid player on the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023: Ja Morant
Ja Morant's rookie extension with the Memphis Grizzlies begins this season, he'll make $34,005,250. Morant's combination of skill, athleticism, and taste for the insane has quickly made him one of the most aesthetically pleasing players to watch in the league. Alongside fellow young teammates Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane the Grizzlies recently looked poised to assert themselves as an up-and-coming powerhouse in the Western Conference.
However, Morant has had significant off-court issues. This problem reached its apex during last season's NBA playoffs which resulted in a 25-game suspension being issued by commissioner Adam Silver. The Grizzlies have the talent to be contenders, but it will come down to whether or not Morant rises to the role of team leader on and off the court. He hasn't so far.
Highest-paid player on the Miami Heat in 2023: Jimmy Butler
At age 33, Jimmy Butler will make $45,005,250 for the Miami Heat next season as they aim to return to the NBA Finals. Butler has proven himself to be a player who raises his performance to another level in the playoffs and has led the Heat to the Finals twice since being acquired via trade from the Philadelphia 76ers in the summer of 2019.
He hasn't been able to lead them to a championship, though. That hurdle seems dependent on a potential Damian Lillard trade, which has dominated the NBA offseason.
We know what Butler and the Heat are capable of, but their ability to do more than that is doubtful without securing Lillard's services.
Highest-paid player on the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Drafted 10 years ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo lead the Milwaukee Bucks to the 2021 NBA championship but they lost in the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the Boston Celtics the following season and in the first round of the playoffs to the Miami Heat last season. Championship run aside, Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have had significant playoff struggles during his time leading the franchise.
Antetokounmpo is slated to make $45,640,084 next season and the Bucks re-signed Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez to run it back with their championship core and a head coaching change, firing Mike Budenholzer and hiring Adrian Griffin.
Anything short of a competitive conference finals appearance will likely be considered a failure for Antetokounmpo.
Highest-paid player on the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2023: Rudy Gobert
Rudy Gobert's trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves last summer was one of the biggest in recent history when you factor in what Minnesota gave up and was also quickly labeled a drastic overpay.
Perhaps rightfully so. The Timberwolves struggled to find any sort of consistency throughout the season and made it into the playoffs via the play-in. They lost swifty in five games in the first round to the Denver Nuggets.
Gobert will make $41,000,000 next season, and the Timberwolves are certainly telling themselves that a full season of Mike Conley and hopefully good health will be enough to win their first playoff series since 2004.
Highest-paid player on the New Orleans Pelicans in 2023: C.J. McCollum
Traded to the New Orleans Pelicans at the 2022 NBA trade deadline, C.J. McCollum is set to make $35,802,469 next season. McCollum has been a productive player for the Pelicans since his arrival. He averaged 20.91 points per game last season and 5.72 assists per game.
The Pelicans' overall success isn't dependent on McCollum though, it's dependent on Zion Williamson and his ability to avoid injuries. McCollum is not even second in command, with Brandon Ingram being the last remaining player acquired in the Anthony Davis trade.
The Pelicans were at the top of the Western Conference when healthy next season, and if Williamson is playing they may be able to do that again.
Highest-paid player on the New York Knicks in 2023: Julius Randle
Julius Randle will enter the second year of his contract extension this season, making $25,660,800. Randle signed with the Knicks as a free agent in the summer of 2019 and has helped them make the playoffs twice and defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of last season's playoffs alongside Jalen Brunson.
Brunson and Randle are a solid duo, they're likely to be a successful regular season team again next season but if they want to go further than the second round the Knicks front office will certainly have to attempt to cash in the assets they have for a higher level player at some point soon.
Highest-paid player on the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2023: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Acquired via the Paul George trade four summers ago, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is entering the second year of his rookie extension where he'll make $33,386,850.
He is a certified star, making All-NBA First Team last season while averaging a career-high 31.4 points per game. Gilgeous-Alexander has been the heart of the Thunder's rebuild, and with Chet Holmgren and Vasilije Micic joining a young and talented roster next season he will undoubtedly be looking to build on last season's play-in berth by qualifying for the playoffs.
Heck, Gilgeous-Alexander could be a shock MVP contender next season.
Highest-paid player on the Orlando Magic in 2023: Jonathan Isaac
Jonathan Isaac was drafted sixth overall by the Orlando Magic in 2017, and he's entering year three of his current contract. He'll make $17,400,00 this season.
Isaac has had flashes of elite three-and-D potential with the Magic. At 6-10, with solid lateral speed and a decent three-point shot, it's easy to see why the Magic have stuck with Isaac through one of the worst injury records in the league.
Except for his second season where he played in 75 games, Isaac has failed to appear in more than 34 games in any other season. His fit with Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr, Jett Howard, and the rest of Orlando's young core looks like it could be the perfect set-up for the modern NBA. All of them are 6-foot-7 or taller, have a wide range of skills, and are capable of defending multiple positions.
If the on-court product is anywhere near as good as the on-paper potential, the Magic could be back in the playoffs in 2024.
Highest-paid player on the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023: Joel Embiid
Drafted nearly a decade ago now, Joel Embiid is coming off an MVP season that also ended in yet another disappointment for the Philadelphia 76ers. Embiid is on the books for a max salary of $47,607,350, and the Sixers' ceiling currently hinges on more than him.
A James Harden trade seems inevitable, but will that bring back enough for the Sixers to finally get out of the second round? Will Tyrese Maxey make another leap and comfortably take over lead guard duties? Is Nick Nurse going to be a notable upgrade over Doc Rivers?
Plenty of questions surround the Sixers before you can get into what their plans should be for Embiid.
Highest-paid player on the Phoenix Suns in 2023: Kevin Durant
Aged 34 and with his fair share of injury struggles over the past few seasons, Kevin Durant's clock is ticking for the Phoenix Suns. Acquired via trade last season – the first of many major moves new owner Mat Ishbia made – Durant had some strong playoff performances but it wasn't enough to knock out Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
With Bradley Beal and a slew of new rotation pieces, Durant and his $47,649,433 should be expected to make the conference finals at minimum next season because his clock is ticking down.
Highest-paid player on the Portland Trail Blazers in 2023: Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard will make $45,640,084 next season, but most of it will probably be with the Miami Heat and not the Portland Trailblazers. Drafted by Portland in 2012, Lillard has spent his entire career with the franchise but finally made a formal trade request this summer.
He has indicated his interest in joining the Heat, and it's assumed an agreeable trade will be made between the Trail Blazers and Heat at some point which would make Lillard the highest-paid player on the Heat.
Highest-paid player on the Sacramento Kings in 2023: De'Aaron Fox
De'Aaron Fox was drafted by the Sacramento Kings six years ago, and – like Lillard – was the sixth overall pick. In his first full season with Domantas Sabonis last season, the Kings made the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
Fox will make $32,600,060 and will be looking to build on last season by hopefully delivering the franchise's first playoff series win in two decades. The Western Conference is stacked, but Fox has consistently improved throughout his career so far. If he could do that again, they might have just enough.
Highest-paid player on the San Antonio Spurs in 2023: Keldon Johnson
Tied for the second-lowest salary on this list with Bojan Bogdanovic, Keldon Johnson is slated to make $20 million next season after being selected 29th overall by the San Antonio Spurs four years ago.
The Kentucky alum will be working with his fellow teammates to figure out how they all fit around French phenom Victor Wembanyama, and also checking how quickly they may be looking to pivot from this rebuild to their first steps of progress.
Highest-paid player on the Toronto Raptors in 2023: Pascal Siakam
Pascal Siakam was drafted by the Toronto Raptors six years ago and helped the franchise win their first-ever championship in 2019. He will make $37,893408 on an expiring contract next season and so far he has indicated he does not plan on signing an extension anywhere but Toronto who is the one team that can offer him a five-year max.
Extension talks have not begun according to reports, which could mean Toronto may not be itching to give Siakam a five-year max. If Siakam doesn't want to sign an extension for less, he could test next summer's free agency waters and sign a four-year max contract elsewhere.
What seems very likely, is that Siakam's name will be in trade rumors for most of the season.
Highest-paid player on the Utah Jazz in 2023: John Collins
Acquired via trade from the Atlanta Hawks this summer, John Collins will make $25,340,000 next season for the Utah Jazz. Collins was a name in trade rumors for what seemed like an eternity, and this summer the Jazz finally decided to make a move for him.
With a surplus of shooting bigs on the roster and the Jazz heading into year two of their rebuild, Collins will get minutes in a variety of different roles. The Jazz will likely see if he's worth keeping around or flipping for more assets when he becomes an expiring contract in 2025.
Highest-paid player on the Washington Wizards in 2023: Jordan Poole
During the Golden State Warriors' 2022 NBA Finals run, Jordan Poole was their source of good vibes. Young, shifty, skilled, with an impeccable smile, and a knack for the spectacular he was like a mini Stephen Curry.
Then, Draymond Green punched him before last season started, and the good vibes of Poole and the Warriors deteriorated rapidly. Poole was traded to the Washington Wizards in a three-team deal that landed Chris Paul with the Warriors and Bradley Beal with the Phoenix Suns.
Poole is set to make $27,955,537 next season and will have the green light to likely take as many shots as he wants on offense as the Washington Wizards are in a full rebuild. Will this win them a lot of games? Probably not, but it will be a lot of fun. And when you're in a rebuild, fun is all you can ask for sometimes.
