NBA toxic contracts are not poisonous at the beginning, but they are falling a little faster

With the surge in the NBA's salary cap, the original maximum salary of $20 million is now a middle-class person. Only players like Kobe and O'Neal are qualified for signing 100 million in a few years. But now, let alone 100 million, there are a lot of 200 million, and two of them have already produced a league of 300 million.

Then let’s talk about annual salary, 50 million is no longer the maximum salary, 60 million, 70 million, or 80 million, which will be generated as time goes by.

Some players here deserve it, but there are also many toxic contracts.

Of course, the so-called toxic contract was proven later. When it was given, it was really not toxic, but it was really worth the money.

Give a few examples:

The Suns' Bill, in July 2022, renewed his contract with the team for $251 million in five years.

The previous season, Bill averaged 31.3 points per game. Even though he averaged 23.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game in the 21-22 season, it was because of injuries. Bill, who returned from health, would have gone further. After all, there were not many players in the league who averaged 30 points per game, so the Wizards quickly gave the team's top cards this maximum salary contract.

Later, Bill really started to become mediocre, and when the sun was injured, it continued to decline.

Let’s talk about Paul George, last year 76 people gave him a four-year, $212 million maximum salary contract. Although he has injuries, he has almost managed the Clippers. The 76ers already have Embiid, the top inside line, and Maxi, the attacking guard, lacks a top third- and fourth-place player like George. After all, he can still contribute 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the last season of the Clippers. And there is a precedent for winning by leading the team alone, so the 76ers quickly signed and competed for the championship. If they didn't get better, they would be fine.

The result was that at the 76ers, George encountered an injury again, and his condition declined by more than a little bit. He played 41 games, and averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.

Imagine George's dark history, which makes people feel inferior to the quality of his contract.

Let's talk about a younger one, Porter Jr., a young player who entered the league in 2018, has just finished his seventh season.

In 2021, the team gave 5-year $173 million. Finally, the team won the championship in 2023.

But in the playoffs that just ended this season, the Nuggets' third core had only 9.1 points and 5.5 rebounds. The previous season when the team gave a maximum salary, he averaged 19 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. How could a team not give a maximum salary? On the other hand, who knows that this is a cliff-like decline?

Let me talk about one more, LaVine, on July 7, 2022, the team gave a maximum salary of US$215 million in five years. In the 21-22 season, LaVine's data was 27.4 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. Especially for a team like the Bulls, staying with the greatest sincerity and hard work is the most important thing for the team.

Then LaVine began to be mediocre, and was even delegated to the Development League for a time in the 23-24 season.

Of course, these toxic contracts were judged later, but judging from the situation at that time, it was well deserved that almost all players were given a maximum salary contract.

Summary of the past is to better grasp the present, why?

The risk of giving a large contract is getting greater and greater. Why? Because the contract is getting bigger and longer.

You cannot give a big contract just because you play well in one stage. At least you have to observe more;

Those with a history of injury should be cautious;

Those who have data brushes should give up decisively;

Those who cannot lead the team to achieve results, they should observe more cautiously;

Last point, those who have an incorrect attitude towards playing ball should give up decisively.

If you grasp these five principles, you may rarely create toxic contracts.

On the other hand, those who violate these five principles will usher in a cruel reality that after giving a big contract, not only do you not see what you want to see, but the most important thing is the cliff-like decline of the players, and finally hit them in their hands.

In this era, a toxic super contract was enough to ruin a team for many seasons.