5 Biggest NBA contracts signed in the 2019-20 season

#4 Brooklyn Nets - Kevin Durant: 4 years, $164 million

Kevin Durant is recuperating from an Achilles rupture

Until disaster struck in the second round of the playoffs in 2019 against the Houston Rockets, Kevin Durant was widely considered a top 3 player in the NBA. He likely still is but represents another player on this list with immense talent who is recuperating from a serious injury. Regardless, he just got a 4-year $164 million contract to leave Golden State and play in Brooklyn alongside Kyrie Irving.

It won’t be this season that Durant plays for the Nets. His future is unclear as the injury he suffered in the 2019 playoffs was first thought to be a calf strain and then worsened. In an NBA Finals game 5 return where Durant scored 11 points in 11 minutes, Durant wound up tearing his Achilles tendon. This type of injury is at least career-altering if not career-ending and Durant is 31 years old.

Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks has no plans for Durant’s return this season but could have a make your franchise or bust on his hands after this signing. However, Durant is a silky smooth player who is a perennial All-Star and a two time NBA Finals MVP.

#3 Milwaukee Bucks SF - Khris Middleton: 5 years, $178 million

Khris Middleton continues to impress for the Milwaukee Bucks

The 2018-19 NBA season was pretty good for the Milwaukee Bucks as they won 60 regular-season games, securing the first seed in the East, and had a decent playoff run which culminated after they lost the Eastern Conference Finals in six games to eventual NBA champions, the Toronto Raptors. The Bucks have also benefitted from having made limited changes to their roster from a season ago and re-signing small forward Khris Middleton helps the continuity of the roster and the development of the team.

Middleton signed a 5-year $178 million deal and resumed his role as the second most potent scorer on the Bucks as he averaged 18.3 ppg last season second only to Giannis Antetokounmpo. In eight games this season, Middleton has picked up where he left off averaging 18.6 ppg and shooting 37.3% from beyond three providing a good perimeter scorer to Antetokounmpo’s driving and penetration game.