The NBA landscape changed dramatically with the announcement that the league’s salary cap will look very different than expected over the next few years. The result is that there are countless teams straddled with bad contracts that they will have a difficult time overcoming in a much different cap climate. At the same time, those terrible deals make a handful of good contracts around the association look even better on paper. Here is a look at the NBA’s best contracts for the small forward position.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks managed to sign one of the rising stars in the NBA to a four-year, $100 million deal that is less than the max and include no options. That is an incredible deal for a beckoning superstar that is still just 22-years-old. Antetokounmpo averaged 22.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game last season while leading Milwaukee to the playoffs. He still needs to improve his outside shooting game. However, he can do pretty much everything else at an elite level and once his three-point shooting improves he will join a long list of superstars at the small forward position while making less money than all of them.
Jae Crowder, Boston Celtics
There is a major drop off in talent between the Greek Freak and Crowder. However, that doesn’t mean we can overlook the value of Crowder’s current contract. The veteran forward will make $21.9 million over the next three seasons. 34 players will make more money next season alone then Crowder will make over the next three years combined. Boston rolled the dice on him following a 57-game stint in 2014-15 and it’s safe to say the decision has paid off at this point. He’s a key roleplayer on a team that will be competing for an NBA Championship next season.
Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee’s second entry on this list is a rising star that has the potential to contend for an All-Star nod with a strong season in 2017-18. The Eastern Conference is now wide open. Middleton flashed his potential a year ago when he averaged 14.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while hitting 43-percent of his shots from beyond the arc. Middleton won’t be the focal point for the Bucks with Antetokounmpo now the man in Milwaukee. However, Middleton has the potential to be a force while earning a very reasonable $40.1 million over the next three seasons. He is one of the most underrated, underappreciated players in the NBA but fantasy general managers know all about him.
C.J. Miles, Toronto Raptors
Miles is an excellent pure scorer who can defend between the three and the four spot. The fact that the Raptors get him for $25 million over the next three seasons is an absolute steal. There aren’t many role players at the position that can balance between post-up grinders and pick-and-roll playmakers but Miles is one of them. What makes him more valuable is the fact that he fits exactly what the Raptors need: someone who can space the floor, doesn’t need much offensive attention and plays defense. He averaged 10.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and shot 43.4-percent from the field last season. His numbers could be even better this year in Toronto.
Andre Roberson, Oklahoma City Thunder
Roberson’s decision to turn down a four-year, $48 million extension last fall came back to bite him when the cap climate turned. Roberson went on to establish himself as one of the best defenders at his position while averaging 6.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and a combined 2.2 steals & blocks per game last season. However, he ended up accepting a three-year, $30 million contract that will pay him around $2 million less per season without the fourth year. That was a bad break for the player but a good one for a Thunder team that will lean on Roberson without having to overpay for him over the next three seasons.
In fairness, he is an absolutely terrible free throw shooter and has become a liability at the offensive end – at times – but that is mostly offset by his defense. He is liable to get exposed in the playoffs once again.
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