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More than a month of the 2019-20 NBA season has now passed, and while some teams have managed to surpass expectations, several teams with significant payrolls for the season have struggled, and changes in personnel could be made in the weeks ahead as they look to get back in contention.
Teams around the league are limited by the NBA's salary cap that is set at $109.140 million for the 2019-20 season, while the luxury tax threshold sits at $132 million. The likes of Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks and Sacramento Kings are well under that figure - although several teams around the league are paying luxury tax after racking up substantial wage bills. So, here we will take a look at the 5 teams with the highest payrolls for the 2019-20 season
#5 Oklahoma City Thunder - $133,798,690
Following three years of disappointing first-round playoff exits, the Oklahoma City Thunder opted for a rebuild during the summer. Both Russell Westbrook and Paul George departed, although the Thunder had to take back plenty of salary as part of blockbuster trades for the All-Star duo - and the team still has one of the most expensive payrolls in the NBA.
Chris Paul is OKC's highest earner at $38.5 million, while Steven Adams is also owed $25.8 despite making a slow start to the season. Dennis Schroder is also collecting $15.5 million despite slipping down the depth chart, while Danilo Gallinari's expiring contract is worth $22 million. Admittedly, general manager Sam Presti is in the process of reducing OKC's payroll, although it is still strange to see the team among the biggest spenders in the NBA.
#4 Miami Heat - $136,873,823
The Miami Heat have had one of the NBA's biggest payrolls for several seasons, as the front office continually overpaid for average talent. Nevertheless, while the Heat still have one of NBA's biggest payrolls, Pat Riley has managed to offload Hassan Whiteside's contract, while also securing Jimmy Butler on a four-year deal. As their only established All-Star, Butler is comfortably Miami's highest earner with a $32.7 million salary, while Goran Dragic is entering the final year of his deal worth $19.2 million.
James Johnson, Justise Winslow, Kelly Olynyk, Dion Waiters, and Meyers Leonard will also earn more than $10 million for the 2019-20 season, although the roster could undergo changes as the season advances due to Miami's desire to add a second star.
#3 Golden State Warriors - $139,734,684
The Golden State Warriors have dominated the NBA over the past five years, although their dominance has come to an end following the departure of Kevin Durant. The Warriors have started the season with a 3-13 record, although a rebuild is unlikely since Klay Thompson, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green are all signed to long-term max deals.
Curry's $40.2 million salary makes him the highest earner in the entire NBA, while Thompson is making $32.7 million as he recovers from a serious injury. Green is also earning $18 million, and D'Angelo Russell could be traded due to his $27.2 million deal. Elsewhere, much of the Warriors roster is signed to minimum deals, with Kevon Looney the only other man earning more than $4 million.
Ultimately, the Warriors are getting nothing in return for their enormous payroll this season, and the front office will be hopeful that they can get back into contention in time for the 2020-21 season.
#2 Houston Rockets - $145,311,547
The Houston Rockets' quest for a championship has been relentless over the past three seasons, and after initially trending towards a rebuild this summer, the Rockets regrouped to enter the 2019-20 season with another huge payroll. The Rockets finally managed to get rid of Chris Paul's overpaid deal, although he was replaced with Russell Westbrook's massive deal which will see him earn $38.5 million this year.
The ever-dependable James Harden is doing more than enough to justify his $38.2 million salary, while Clint Capela ($16.9 million), Eric Gordon ($14 million), and PJ Tucker (8.3 million) round out one of the most expensive starting lineups in NBA history. In all, the Rockets are paying just over $145 million to the current roster, and anything other than a championship-winning season will be considered a significant disappointment.
#1 Portland Trail Blazers - $147,966,862
After reaching the 2019 Western Conference Finals, the Portland Trail Blazers went all-in on the backcourt pairing of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. The two were handed new long-term max deals, and while neither contract extension has kicked in yet, Lillard ($29.8 million) and McCollum ($27.5 million) are still among the highest earners in the NBA.
Meanwhile, Portland's payroll also rose over the summer after they completed a trade for Hassan Whiteside and the 30-year-old will earn more than $27 million in the final year of his contract. Other high earners include Kent Bazemore ($19.2 million) and Jusuf Nurkic ($12 million), while Rodney Hood ($5.7 million) and Zach Collins ($4.2 million) also add to the payroll. Ultimately, the Trail Blazers' payroll is currently the biggest in the NBA, and the front office won't be happy with the team's awful start to the season.
