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The NBA has become one of the best-paid leagues in the world following the Collective Bargaining Agreement of 2016, which raised the soft salary cap of the league from $70 million in 2015-16 to $84 million in 2016-17, resulting in the rise of the luxury tax threshold from $93.5 million to $112 million.
This led to Kevin Durant being able to sign with the Warriors and destroy the competitive balance of the league, which in turn has led to teams overpaying in search of the requisite talent to beat the two-time defending champions Golden State.
As things stand, however, the Warriors are more than able to recompense their luxury tax bill with their wins through endorsements and their image as the most recognizable basketball team on the planet today.
Do they top the list of teams sorted by average annual salary, or are there teams that pay even higher wages to their players? Read on to find out:
#30-28
Sacramento Kings - $88.69 million
Highest-paid player: Zach Randolph ($11.7 million)
Average player salary: $5.22 million (17-player roster)
Boasting the lowest payroll across the league, the Kings are leveraging all of their young talent currently on great contracts with respect to their value to the team to stay above the .500 mark in win-loss terms through the 2018-19 season.
Currently, on a 16-14 record and in possession of the 9th seed in the West (tied with 8th-seeded Memphis), the Kings are for real this season. Breakouts from De'Aaron Fox and Willey-Cauley Stein have fueled this run for them.
Phoenix Suns - $104.54 million
Highest-paid player: Ryan Anderson ($20.42 million)
Average player salary: $5.80 million (18 players active)
The Phoenix Suns have floundered in the early part of this season to fall to a 7-24 record through the first 31 games of the season.
Part of the reason is that their highest-paid player is also their biggest net negative on the court through this season, and the best way to describe his contract is to term it an albatross on the neck of the front office who traded the lone recognized (albeit injured) point guard on their roster for one of the most overpaid players in the league.
Hopefully, Kelly Oubre's value-for-money contract will help them out to a better record this season.
Philadelphia 76ers - $104.71 million
Highest-paid player: Joel Embiid ($25.47 million)
Average player salary: $6.54 million
The Sixers have completed the more dreary, despair-filled part of The Process initiated by Sam Hinkie in 2013, and are now in win-now mode.
That much was made clear by the franchise when they went on a 16-game winning streak to end the 2017-18 season before trading for Jimmy Butler mid-way through the 2018-19 season.
Embiid is playing like an MVP candidate, Simmons is a surefire All-Defensive Team member right now and Jimmy Buckets has taken to life as a Sixer like a duck to water. Things could be rosier for Philly fans than they are right now.
#27-25
Atlanta Hawks - $104.98 million
Highest-paid player (active): Kent Bazemore ($18.09 million)
Average player salary: $6.56 million
The Hawks are deep in their tanking process right now and are on pace to nab a top-5 pick next season with a 6-23 record through 29 games of this season.
They are on pace to have 2 lottery picks next season (sorry, Mavs) at the moment, and their 3 rookies Trae Young, Kevin Huerter and Omari Spellman have proved that they are capable of being solid to really good NBA players in the near future.
What remains is to manage their cap space properly, and hopefully land a free agent in 2019 or 2020 to complete their rebuild.
Chicago Bulls - $105.47 million
Highest-paid player: Jabari Parker ($20 million)
Average player salary: $6.59 million
The Bulls are in full rebuild mode, pretty much like the Atlanta Hawks. Trading Jimmy Butler for Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine had its merits, but the former looks like a bust this season after a significantly improved second season while the latter is a matador on defense.
Getting back into playoff contention will take at least two more seasons, but they do have a great shot at landing one of the top college recruits in the 2019 NBA draft.
Los Angeles Lakers - $106.05 milion
Highest-paid player: LeBron James ($35.65 million)
Average player salary: $6.62 million
The Lakers made easily the best offseason move this summer by landing the far-and-away best player on the planet in LeBron James on a four-year, $154 million contract that gives them at least three seasons of title contention.
Their young core of Lonzo, Hart, Ingram, and Kuzma is coming into its own as above-average young NBA talent, and the mentorship of LeBron James will ensure that the quartet is able to maximize the potential they have as long as they have The King on their roster.
While they are not expected to be true contenders this season, they are a really good playoff team who have a chance against any opponents because of Bron
#24-22
New York Knicks - $110.78 million
Average player salary: $6.92 million
Highest-paid player: Enes Kanter ($18.62 million)
The Knicks are pushing hard for Zion in the 2019 NBA draft, having rid themselves of some bloated contracts. If they do land a top recruit next season, it prepares the hunting grounds for their pursuit of a big-name free agent through the next 2 summers.
Youngsters Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, and Allonzo Trier comprise the best rookie group across the league, and they have shown enough promise to build the franchise around them and a couple of max players when the time comes.
Dallas Mavericks - $104.30 million
Highest-paid player: Harrison Barnes ($24.1 million)
Average player salary: $6.95 million
The Mavericks have used their 2018 draft pick exceedingly well, trading up to acquire Luka Doncic from the Atlanta Hawks and sending them Trae Young and a 2019 protected first-rounder in return.
This has resulted in them improving their record to twice their winning percentage from 2017-18 through the first 30 games of the season.
Orlando Magic - $111.78 million
Highest-paid player: Aaron Gordon ($21.59 million)
Average player salary: $6.98 million
The Magic have cooled off after a hot start to the season this year in very similar fashion to last year, even though much of their improvement this go-around has been organic rather than the result of unsustainable hot shooting streaks from their role players.
Their 2018 draft pick Mo Bamba is slowly but steadily learning his ropes in the NBA, while Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon figure out how to become star swingmen in the league.
Nikola Vucevic, their best player and first-time All-Star based on his play so far this season, will probably be let go of as a free agent or at the trade deadline to make playing time for their young'ns.
#21-19
Indiana Pacers - $104.97 million
Highest-paid player: Victor Oladipo ($21 million)
Average player salary: $6.99 million
The Pacers took LeBron James' Cavs to Game 7 in the first round last season, acquiring superstar Victor Oladipo and 6MOTY contender Domantas Sabonis in exchange for Paul George in the summer of 2017.
They have gotten better at playing without Oladipo this season than last year when they lost all 6 games without their All-NBA combo guard.
They are part of an elite 5-team tussle for the Eastern Conference championship this season, and are currently 3rd in their Conference standings with a 20-10 record, and are the hottest team in the league right now with 7 straight Ws.
Milwaukee Bucks - $128.44 million
Highest-paid player - Giannis Antetokounmpo
Average player salary - $7.13 million
The Milwaukee Bucks have had the talent to be a mean playoff team for the last couple of years, but its the appointment of former Greg Popovich protege and Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer that has catapulted the Bucks from first-round playoff fodder to a team primed to fight for the #1 seed in the Conference.
With Giannis playing at an MVP clip and Khris Middleton playing second fiddle admirably and the rest of the squad raining 3-pointers, the Bucks will be a problem for any team that crosses them in the playoffs.
Los Angeles Clippers - $121.38 million
Highest-paid player - Danilo Gallinari ($21 million)
Average player salary: $7.14 million
The Clippers have easily been the surprise of the season in the Western Conference so far. Owning a solid 17-13 record so far and primed to make the playoffs without a true first option offensively on any given night, the Clippers have proved that teams with a deep rotation can hold their own during the regular season, and ordinarily would make the playoffs both last season and this year if only they were in slightly kinder Conferences than what the Western Conference looks like right now - a Murderer's Row of playoff contenders.
#18-16
Brooklyn Nets - $117.04 million
Highest-paid player: Allen Crabbe ($19.33 million)
Average player salary: $7.31 million
The Nets will finally own their first-round draft pick in 2019, but based on how they've played thus far this season, they look primed for a late-lottery pick come draft day.
Their scrappy squad full of mid-career journeymen and formerly rejected players from other teams have banded together as one of the most cohesive units, and Jarrett Allen has all the makings of the next great traditional big man in the league.
Denver Nuggets - $119.69 million
Highest-paid player: Paul Millsap ($29.23 million)
Average player salary: $7.48 million
The Nuggets agonizingly missed out on the playoffs over the last 2 seasons in the last 2 games of the regular season calendar, but they look primed to secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs this season.
What has impressed people most, other than Jokic's All-NBA play, is the fact that they've been able to grind out wins despite missing out on multiple vitally important players, going on a seven-game winning streak without the likes of Gary Harris, Will Barton and Torrey Craig, not to mention players like Isaiah and Michael Porter Jr who have yet to take the floor this season.
Utah Jazz - $113.07 million
Highest-paid player: Rudy Gobert ($22.74 million)
Average player salary: $7.53 million
The Jazz finished last season on a 29-6 streak to raise themselves from 10th place in the Western Conference standings to fifth and saw it fit to bring virtually the same roster back for this season.
Their cold perimeter shooting thus far this season, however, has made replicating last season's formula much more difficult this time around, as they have struggled for the consistent offense other than Donovan Mitchell.
Landing Kyle Korver for Alec Burks may be a win, but it doesn't move the needle enough for them right now. They look primed to make a deadline-day trade move right now.
#15-13
San Antonio Spurs - $121.41 million
Highest-paid player - DeMar DeRozan ($27.73 million)
Average player salary - $7.59 million
The Spurs have had a so-so start to the season, but they've looked solid when their best players play up to their potential together.
Rudy Gay's contributions have been crucial to the Spurs' fortunes this season, and they are often the X-Factor alongside the rather inconsistent form of LaMarcus Aldridge.
DeMar DeRozan, on the other hand, looks and plays like the leader of the team, and if they can add some depth at the point guard role, the Spurs will once again be able to crack the 50-win barrier.
New Orleans Pelicans - $114.40 million
Highest-paid player: Jrue Holiday ($26.13 million)
Average player salary: $7.63 million
Losing Boogie Cousins as a free agent this summer has not hurt nearly as much as it could have, given the acquisition of Sixth Man of the Year frontrunner Julius Randle.
But the team, as structured currently, is way too injury-prone and thin on usable playoff depth to go further than the second round, which is why the Anthony Davis trade rumours have been peaking from the start of the season.
It makes no sense for the franchise to trade their centerpiece even at the risk of losing him for nothing as a free agent, but they do need to sign players who stay fitter than the likes of Mirotic and Payton have been this season.
Cleveland Cavaliers - $119.37 million
Highest-paid player: Kevin Love ($24.12 million)
Average player salary: $7.95 million
The Cavs are in free fall this season after losing LeBron James to the Lakers as a free agent. Injury troubles to their 2 best players (Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love) didn't help them as they started off with an outrageously bad record.
Since being 2-13, the Cavs have helped themselves in the standings somewhat by raising their record to a slightly more respectable 7-23 and 13th place in the Conference standings, but they're well and truly in the race for Zion/RJ Barrett/Cam Reddish.
#12-10
Minnesota Timberwolves - $122.31 million
Highest-paid player: Andrew Wiggins ($25.47 million)
Average player salary: $7.64 million
The Timberwolves went through one of the most long-drawn-out, melodramatic trade sagas in recent NBA memory as they acquired Dario Saric and Robert Covington in exchange for wantaway star Jimmy Butler after only having him for a season and spare change five weeks back.
The trade turned out to be a win-win, as both Philly and the Timberwolves have played markedly better basketball in the wake of this move. The Wolves are fighting for a playoff berth in consecutive years, but they have a monumental task on their hands.
Memphis Grizzlies - $123.67 million
Highest-paid player: Mike Conley ($30.5 million)
Average player salary: $7.72 million
Following a lackluster tanking campaign that saw them lose a game by 60, in addition to losing 34 of their last 41 games of the season and two 10-game losing streaks, the Grizzlies seem to have bounced back into playoff contention with the improved health of Mike Conley. Chandler Parsons' contract seems to be weighing them down, however, as they struggle to place enough shooting around their core duo.
Rookie Jaren Jackson Jr, however, has been a breath of fresh air from the franchise - a hybrid 4/5 who can shoot the 3 and switch onto all 5 positions.
Detroit Pistons - $124.95 million
Highest-paid player - Blake Griffin ($31.87 million)
Average player salary - $7.80 million
The Pistons are looking clearly improved under new head coach and reigning Coach of the Year Dwane Casey.
After some dark times under Stan van Gundy, Dwane Casey has found an offensive mantra that maximizes the talent of their All-Star frontcourt of Griffin and Drummond in addition to placing their role players in position to succeed.
If they do make the playoffs (they're currently the 6th seed in the East), it'll be a step up from the past couple of seasons.
#9-7
Portland Trail Blazers - $129.50 million
Highest-paid player - Damian Lillard
Average player salary - $8.09 million
The Trail Blazers are one of those teams right now that will fade into history as an afterthought of the era, even though they've been a pretty successful team through the past 7-8 seasons or so.
The presence of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum makes them a playoff team by default, but the rest of their contracts have handicapped them from a true run at championship contention, and they've been victims of first-round sweeps in the past couple of summers.
Boston Celtics - $125.05 million
Highest-paid player: Gordon Hayward ($31.21 million)
Average player salary: $8.33 million
The Celtics are currently over the cap by around $3.5 million, about exactly the same cap figure as they're offset by Terry Rozier's contract in 2018-19.
This has been the basis of trade rumours for the third-string point guard, whose role has been considerably reduced since Kyrie's return to competitive basketball.
Though there are other players (read: Anthony Davis) who could be traded for using Rozier as a bargaining chip, the thinking around the Danny Ainge camp is that he's a current asset whose use/lack of it can be determined over the summer.
Charlotte Hornets - $119.91 million
Highest-paid player - Nicolas Batum ($24 million)
Average player salary - $8.57 million
The Hornets have teetered on the edge of a .500 record the past 2 seasons, but despite owning a positive net rating per 100 possessions, they have failed to make the playoffs due to their temerity in close games, which they've almost always lost.
The lack of a true shot creator at an above-average level other than Kemba, who was playing MVP-level basketball to start the season off, hurts them a lot in their playoff hunt. As do the contracts of Marvin Williams, Nicolas Batum and now Bismack Biyombo, who've all hamstrung their cap space flexibility for the next 2 summers.
#6-4
Miami Heat - $131.5 million
Highest-paid player: Hassan Whiteside ($25.4 million)
Average annual salary: $8.95 million
The Miami Heat are stuck between a rock and a hard place. While the $26 million they're paying to Chris Bosh doesn't count towards their salary cap, they're still paying the luxury tax for a roster in which the biggest standouts (Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside) have never been named to the first list of an All-Star team.
None of their current contracts (with the exception of Tyler Johnson's poison-pill contract) can be labelled as bad outright, but they still end up having to pay the luxury tax for a team that has barely been above .500 since 2014.
Houston Rockets - $135.29 million
Highest-paid player - Chris Paul ($35.65 million)
Average player salary - $9.6 million
The Rockets have done a phenomenal job of building their roster up from scratch. Starting in 2012, when they acquired franchise player and reigning MVP James Harden in a trade from then-finalists Oklahoma City Thunder, the Rockets have barely put a foot wrong in terms of handing out contracts.
They will be looking to go two steps better than the Game 7 Western Conference Finals appearance that they managed in 2018, although their task has become monumentally harder due to the Warriors' offseason moves
Toronto Raptors - $141.22 million
Highest-paid player - Kyle Lowry ($31 million)
Average player salary - $9.67 million
The Raptors are run by one of the wiliest front office officials in Masai Ujiri, who was a huge coup for the organization as he's proved time and again in the past 5 and a half years.
Ujiri has turned around one of the worst expansion teams in league history into a perennial playoff team and pulled off one of the ballsiest trades of this past summer to swap DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard.
#3-1
Washington Wizards - $129.09 million
Highest-paid player - Otto Porter Jr ($26.01 million)
Average player salary - $9.72 million
The Wizards' front office moves have been mostly reactionary instead of well-thought-out expenditures. Their highest-paid player this season (Porter Jr) caps out as a long-distance marksman and lockdown defender at the peak of his career - something we might already have seen.
Bradley Beal and John Wall are owed a combined $270 million in the next 3-4 seasons, and although both are All-Stars, they have not had any playoff success worth mention in their last 7 seasons together.
Golden State Warriors - $145.80 million
Highest-paid player - Stephen Curry ($37.46 million)
Average player salary - $9.96 million
Up until 2012, the Warriors were genuinely the laughing stock of the NBA, with their last championship coming in 1975 during a time when the likes of Rick Barry were still balling at the height of their powers.
Under Jerry West, they drafted Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, and 2 Finals appearances later, they added Kevin Durant to the mix to compile the most talented NBA team of all time.
This summer, they outdid themselves by signing DeMarcus Cousins - arguably the best big man in the game when healthy - for a season, virtually guaranteeing themselves a 3rd straight championship run.
Oklahoma City Thunder - $147.31 million
Highest-paid player - Russell Westbrook ($35.64 million)
Average player salary - $10 million
The Thunder were widely criticized for their abysmal postseason performance last season after paying the highest luxury tax bill in NBA salary cap history for the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Paul George and Russell Westbrook.
They have, since then, made amends by trading an ageing Melo for Dennis Schroder, who's fit into the sixth man role like a custom-made glove.
They are much deeper this season than they have been in recent memory, and although the injury bug has deprived us of taking a look at what their roster is capable of in its totality, not much time remains for Andre Roberson's slated comeback in January.
