The $48m NBA star paid by two separate teams

Last season: 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists per game, 45.5% FG, 29.7% 3PT, 82.7% FT

With long-time Raptor Kyle Lowry joining Miami successful the off-season, it is clip for Pascal Siakam to instrumentality the reins successful Toronto.

Taken 27th wide successful the 2016 draft, Siakam is the poster-boy of Toronto's renowned subordinate development.

The 27-year-old played a cardinal relation successful the Raptors' 2019 NBA rubric win, winning the NBA's Most Improved Player grant that twelvemonth earlier being named an All-Star the pursuing year.

Siakam was rewarded for his emergence with a steadfast four-year, $136 cardinal woody that kicked successful astatine the commencement of past season.

The Raptors struggled past play aft being based retired of Tampa owed to COVID-19 restrictions, and Siakam has preached a connection of togetherness successful the pre-season.

"We've gotta propulsion for each other, assistance each different and adjacent erstwhile things are bad, we've gotta beryllium determination for each other," helium told The Athletic.

"That's thing I learned. The ambiance wasn't great. It's like, 'Damn, we suffer again.' It conscionable feels similar you're being stabbed each time, and it hurts. You tin (see) it successful everybody's faces, from players to coaches to fans. I deliberation what I learned from that is nary substance however bittersweet I got, it didn't alteration the result."

Siakam volition beryllium an unrestricted escaped cause astatine the extremity of the 2023-24 season.

Last season: 31.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists per game, 48.3% FG, 34.9% 3PT, 88.9% FT

If it feels similar Bradley Beal's sanction is successful commercialized rumours each season, it's due to the fact that it's true.

Seemingly against each odds, Beal is inactive successful Washington and inactive seemingly blessed successful the nation's capital.

The 28-year-old enjoyed a sensational 2020-21 play arsenic helium came to wrong a hairsbreadth of the scoring rubric earlier being pipped astatine the decease by Stephen Curry.

READ MORE: Beal scores 60 successful nonaccomplishment to Simmons and 76ers

Nevertheless, Beal was capable to adhd a 3rd vocation All-Star quality and was named to the All-NBA 3rd team, the archetypal All-NBA motion of his nine-year career.

There is optimism successful Washington aft the Wizards were capable to shed Russell Westbrook's hefty woody and added immoderate extent astir Beal successful the process.

However, this play could besides beryllium Beal's past successful Washington, with the shooting defender having a $36 cardinal subordinate enactment for adjacent season.

He is apt to beryllium 1 of the NBA's astir sought-after escaped agents and his adjacent woody volition spot him rocket up this list.

Last season: 26.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists per game, 50.6% FG, 40.2% 3PT, 92.2% FT

Kyrie Irving has successful the headlines for each the incorrect reasons of precocious owed to his controversial anti-vaccination stance, but helium remains a terrific subordinate erstwhile connected the court.

After an injury-plagued archetypal play successful Brooklyn, Irving was sensational successful his 2nd alongside All-Star moving mates Kevin Durant and James Harden.

The 28-year-old became conscionable the 10th subordinate to grounds a 50-40-90 play and made his seventh All-Star squad and 2nd All-NBA team.

Irving signed a four-year, $136 cardinal woody successful the summertime of 2019 but his anti-vaxx stance has enactment his aboriginal good and genuinely successful doubt.

He possesses a $36.5 cardinal subordinate enactment for adjacent play with Brooklyn and is acceptable to go an unrestricted escaped cause astatine the extremity of the 2022-23 season, should helium opt into the deal.

While Brooklyn has worked to widen some Durant and Harden's contracts, the aforesaid has not yet happened for Irving owed to his off-court issues.

Last season: 14.3 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.7 blocks per game, 67.5% FG, 63.0% FT

If determination is immoderate subordinate successful the full NBA that is hopeless request of a redemption season, it is Utah's Rudy Gobert.

Much similar his team, Gobert enjoyed a sensational regular play but fell level connected his look during a humiliating playoff exit.

Up against an undermanned LA Clippers squad successful the Western Conference semi-finals, Gobert was ruthlessly exposed by a smaller LA line-up.

After being drafted 27th wide successful the 2013 draft, the Frenchman has go the champion interior defender successful the NBA.

Last season, Gobert took retired his 3rd Defensive Player of the Year award and was named successful the NBA's All-Defensive First Team for the 5th consecutive year.

Gobert and Utah's futures are acceptable to beryllium joined unneurotic for a fig of years yet, with the large antheral lone embarking connected the archetypal twelvemonth of a bumper five-year, $205 cardinal deal.

Last season: 21.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists per game, 49.1% FG, 26.0% 3PT, 73.8% FT

With LeBron James acceptable to crook 37 this season, the clip has good and genuinely travel for Anthony Davis to pb the Lakers forward.

Davis endured a frustrating 2020-21 season, struggling with wellness aft a shortened off-season pursuing the Lakers' 2020 rubric win.

The Lakers' rubric hopes went up successful fume during past year's Playoffs erstwhile Davis suffered a groin injury.

While the 28-year-old tried admirably to play done the injury, helium could hardly tally successful the elimination crippled against Phoenix and was yet pulled from the game.

Having had a afloat off-season to recover, Davis and the Lakers are retooled and acceptable to go, but helium admits determination volition beryllium increasing pains.

"We know, possibly, determination could beryllium struggles to commencement the season. ... But we ne'er privation to get retired to a dilatory commencement -- 0-5, 0-6, immoderate -- we inactive privation to beryllium capable to combat done our mistakes portion winning games," helium said.

Despite his struggles past year, Davis inactive notched an eighth consecutive All-Star appearance.

Davis is conscionable successful the 2nd twelvemonth of a bumper five-year, $190 cardinal deal that volition spot him stay a Laker until astatine slightest 2024.

Last season: 20.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists per game, 47.6% FG, 41.4% 3PT, 89.8% FT

Khris Middleton and Milwaukee teammate Jrue Holiday became the archetypal brace of NBA teammates to triumph a rubric and triumph an Olympic golden medal successful the aforesaid twelvemonth since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen successful 1992.

However, the 30-year-old sharpshooter would've missed retired connected his portion of past had it not been for his wife.

Just a fewer hours aft the Bucks' title-clinching triumph successful July, Middleton took his woman to the infirmary and his 2nd kid was born.

Due to the newborn, Middleton considered not going until his woman insisted.

"I was reasoning astir not doing it, a small bit," helium told The Athletic.

"It's a newborn child, your son, you privation to beryllium a portion of that archetypal mates weeks and archetypal mates months, don't privation to miss a thing. (My wife) kept telling maine that everything volition beryllium fine, they'll beryllium present erstwhile I get back.

"Go implicit determination and unrecorded retired 1 of my dreams and erstwhile I travel backmost everything is going to beryllium fine."

Middleton is successful his 3rd twelvemonth of a five-year, $177 cardinal deal and volition beryllium an unrestricted escaped cause successful the summertime of 2024.

Last season: 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game, 51.2% FG, 39.4% 3PT, 89.2% FT

While Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons drawback the headlines, galore would not cognize that Tobias Harris is really the highest-paid 76er.

After being traded from the Clippers to Philadelphia, Harris was rewarded with a handsome five-year, $180 cardinal woody successful the summertime of 2019.

READ MORE: Harris opens up connected Simmons' instrumentality to Philadelphia

The lone subordinate connected this database to not marque an All-Star team, yet, Philadelphia volition anticipation that changes successful the adjacent aboriginal with the 29-year-old not a escaped cause until the summertime of 2024.

With Simmons perchance connected the mode retired of Philadelphia, a larger violative load is apt to autumn connected Harris' shoulders if the Sixers are to scope their rubric aspirations.

While he's ne'er made an All-Star team, Harris has been a phenomenally accordant scorer passim his career.

The small-forward has averaged 18+ points and 6+ rebounds per crippled successful each of his past 5 seasons.

Last season: 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists per game, 51.2% FG, 39.8% 3PT, 88.5% FT

Kawhi Leonard's wellness hangs implicit this NBA play similar a villain stalking the leader successful a movie.

The Clippers prima looked good connected the roadworthy to claiming his 3rd NBA rubric earlier suffering an ACL wounded against Utah, an wounded which dashed his team's title aspirations.

Despite immoderate speculation that helium mightiness leave, Leonard made a semipermanent committedness to the Clippers, signing a caller four-year, $176 cardinal woody successful the off-season.

When healthy, Leonard is 1 of the NBA's premier two-way wings, arsenic evidenced by his 5 All-Star nods and 3 first-team All-NBA honours.

Despite his genu injury, Leonard says helium inactive hopes to instrumentality sometime this season.

"One thing, I wanted to unafraid immoderate money, and I wanted to beryllium capable to travel backmost if I was capable to this year," helium said connected the Clippers' Media Day.

"If I would person took the one-and-one, I astir apt would person not played conscionable to beryllium cautious, and opted retired and took a five-year. But I'm here. I'm present to beryllium a Clipper. I'm not going to different squad unless thing drastic happens. I'm present for the agelong run."

Last season: 21.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 7.1 assists per game, 49.7% FG, 24.5% 3PT, 86.3% FT

After being unceremoniously swept retired of the playoffs past season, Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat person revenge connected their minds.

"We're ready," Butler said aft the Heat wrapped up a 5-1 pre-season record.

"Hell, if you spell done grooming camp, you'd amended beryllium acceptable to spell man. Now each of these hard practices get to dumb down a small bit. The existent games are here. They number and we're acceptable for it."

Butler has transformed the civilization successful each of his 4 stops successful his vocation and has done it again successful Miami aft signing a four-year, $140 cardinal woody with the Heat successful 2019.

Since going to South Beach, Butler has racked up 2 consecutive All-NBA Third Team nods arsenic good arsenic an All-Star quality and an All-Defensive second-team appearance, portion leading the Heat to the NBA Finals successful 2020.

Butler signed a three-year, $136 cardinal hold with the Heat successful August, a woody which could spot him gain a whopping $52 cardinal arsenic a 36-year-old successful the 2025-26 season.

Last season: 19.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists per game, 42.0% FG, 36.0% 3PT, 89.9% FT

Kemba Walker is the lone subordinate connected the NBA's affluent database who is presently being paid by 2 abstracted teams.

After helium was traded from Boston to Oklahoma City during the off-season, Walker secured a buyout with the Thunder earlier signing a two-year, $17.8 cardinal woody with his hometown New York Knicks.

Despite giving up immoderate wealth successful the buyout with the Thunder, Walker is inactive earning $26,238,422 from his archetypal four-year, $140 cardinal max woody signed with the Celtics successful the summertime of 2019.

Walker endured a hard 2nd play with Boston, who were much than consenting to woody him distant contempt having signed him arsenic a large escaped cause successful the summertime of 2019.

The diminutive constituent defender was an All-Star successful his archetypal play successful Beantown earlier injuries caught up past year, restricting him to conscionable 43 games.

"I felt similar they didn't privation maine nary more, and it's my aged team," Walker said of the Celtics connected ESPN Radio. "Definitely, I privation to win. I privation to bushed those guys."

After astonishing the full NBA by making the playoffs past season, the Knicks volition decidedly beryllium boosted by a steadfast Walker's scoring and playmaking quality from the constituent defender position.

Last season: Did not play (torn Achilles)

If determination is 1 subordinate successful the NBA whose wellness could importantly plaything the rubric likelihood this season, it's Golden State's Klay Thompson.

Warriors prima Stephen Curry showed helium had plentifulness near successful the vessel past play by winning the scoring title, but didn't person capable ammo beside him without his backcourt moving mate.

After being 1 of the astir durable players successful the NBA for the archetypal 8 seasons of his career, Thompson has missed the past 2 seasons successful afloat aft a torn ACL and torn Achilles successful consecutive years.

The past clip the NBA saw him, Thompson was raining occurrence connected the Toronto Raptors successful Game 6 of the 2019 Finals, and if he's anyplace adjacent to that level, it makes the Warriors an contiguous contender.

Thompson is not expected to beryllium steadfast to play until aboriginal connected successful the season, meaning it could beryllium a whopping 1000 days betwixt NBA games for the five-time All-Star.

Thompson inked a lucrative five-year, $190 cardinal woody with the Warriors successful the summertime of 2019 and volition beryllium eligible for escaped bureau successful the summertime of 2024.

Last season: 23.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists per game, 46.7% FG, 41.1% 3PT, 86.8% FT

Clippers prima Paul George says helium is prepared to beryllium "the fig 1 guy" successful the lack of Kawhi Leonard this season.

The relation is simply a blast from the past for George, who was the main feline during his last years successful Indiana.

After copping vigor for his playoff performances successful caller years, George showed helium could transportation the load successful past year's playoffs.

George was sensational aft Leonard went down, and coiled up averaging a hairsbreadth nether 27 points per crippled successful the playoffs arsenic the Clippers went wrong 2 games of their archetypal NBA Finals quality ever.

"I deliberation this radical proved what we tin execute being down Kawhi," helium said.

"That was capable going into this summertime knowing what I request to bring, what I request to add, what I request to enactment on.

"I've been successful this position, truthful it gives maine a level of comfortableness being the fig 1 feline to start, and I'm acceptable to lead."

George signed a four-year, $176 cardinal hold with the Clippers successful December 2020

Last season: 28.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.5 assists per game, 45.1% FG, 39.1% 3PT, 92.8% FT

Seemingly against each odds, Damian Lillard is inactive successful Portland to commencement the 2021-22 NBA season.

Lillard's clip successful Portland looked to beryllium implicit aft his comments pursuing the Blazers' playoff nonaccomplishment against Denver past year, where helium poured successful a ridiculous 55 points successful a crippled but inactive lost, but the 31-year-old is erstwhile again each in.

"I deliberation implicit the years we've ever had a competitory team, I deliberation we'll beryllium competitory again," Lillard said.

"Obviously, astatine the extremity of past play I wanted to spot our roster improve. I wanted america to person a amended accidental to win.

"We had our conversations passim the summertime astir what that looked like, and however we could instrumentality steps successful that direction. I travel into this play with religion that that's going to happen."

The six-time All-Star defender has morphed into 1 of the NBA's astir lethal long-range shooters, and is virtually successful scope each clip helium crosses half-court.

Lillard enjoyed a sensational 2020-21 season, and was named to his third-straight All-NBA 2nd team.

He is successful the archetypal play of a four-year, $176 cardinal declaration hold signed with Portland successful 2019 that volition spot him gain $48 cardinal successful his age-34 season.

Last season: 28.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists per game, 56.9% FG, 30.3% 3PT, 68.5% FT

The NBA's newest king, Giannis Antetokounmpo has looked adjacent amended than the frightening level helium showed during the NBA Finals.

Antetokounmpo exorcised each Playoff demon helium whitethorn person had with an unthinkable 50-point, 14-rebound Game 6 show against Phoenix to assertion his archetypal NBA title.

The antheral they telephone the 'Greek Freak' already has a frighteningly bully resume and helium is inactive conscionable 26 years old.

"I privation to support getting better," helium said anterior to Milwaukee's season-opener.

"I don't attraction astir MVPs. I don't attraction astir antiaircraft subordinate of the year. I don't attraction astir each those things. I attraction astir getting better, due to the fact that I cognize if I bash that, there's much things coming with that and that's what I've done my full vocation and that's wherefore I'm successful this position."

There was wide speculation surrounding Giannis' aboriginal successful Milwaukee, but the two-time MVP enactment that each to furniture by signing a monster 'Supermax' with the Bucks.

Giannis signed a whopping five-year, $228 cardinal hold with Milwaukee past December and stands to gain $52 cardinal successful the last twelvemonth of the deal.

Last season: 25.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.8 assists per game, 51.3% FG, 36.5% 3PT, 69.8% FT

LeBron James has continued to defy the laws of ageing arsenic helium heads towards the property of 40 arsenic ascendant arsenic immoderate subordinate astatine his property has been.

James was putting up MVP-level performances past play earlier an ankle wounded against the Hawks ruined his play and back-to-back rubric hopes.

After being bundled retired successful the first-round of the Playoffs for the archetypal clip successful his career, James is motivated to soundlessness the doubters again.

Despite playing a career-low 45 games past play and being connected the brink of 37, James is prepared to enarthrosis immoderate load indispensable this season.

"I don't play the crippled reasoning astir injuries," James anterior to LA's season-opener. "And I besides consciousness worse erstwhile I play debased minutes."

"I didn't bash overmuch hoops worldly for astir apt the archetypal 2 months of the summer, which is precise uncommon for me, due to the fact that my ankle wasn't responding however I would similar it to respond."

James volition beryllium successful the archetypal twelvemonth of a two-year, $85 cardinal hold helium signed with the Lakers past December.

Despite missing a important chunk of the season, James was inactive named to the All-NBA 2nd squad and you'd beryllium a brave idiosyncratic to stake connected him not making it 18 consecutive All-Star appearances this season.

Last season: 26.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists per game, 53.7% FG, 45.0% 3PT, 88.2% FT

Despite being held to conscionable 35 games past season, it was a palmy instrumentality from a torn Achilles for Kevin Durant.

The 33-year-old continued to amusement that helium is arguably the champion scorer successful the full league and unguardable erstwhile helium gets going.

Durant's regular play earned him a 11th All-Star selection, but helium truly separated himself during an insane Playoff run.

With moving mates Kyrie Irving and James Harden some injured, Durant enactment connected a one-man scoring masterclass successful a bid the Nets would yet suffer to the NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks.

Durant ended the postseason with a career-high playoff mean of 34.3 points per crippled portion besides shooting 40 per cent from downtown.

With a steadfast Harden and hopefully Irving successful tow, Durant's Nets are 1 of the favourites to triumph this year's title.

Durant's terrific postseason led to the Nets rewarding him with a four-year, $194 cardinal hold that is astir definite to spot him extremity his vocation successful Brooklyn.

The last twelvemonth of that deal, scheduled for the 2025-26 season, volition spot a 37-year-old Durant gain implicit $53 million.

Last season: 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, 11.7 assists per game, 43.9% FG, 31.5% 3PT, 65.6% FT

Russell Westbrook confirmed his presumption arsenic the NBA's undisputed triple treble king by averaging the unthinkable people for a 4th abstracted season.

However, present alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Westbrook is sacrificing his numbers for a changeable astatine a archetypal NBA title.

At 32, Westbrook is heading towards the process extremity of his vocation but inactive remains 1 of the NBA's astir explosive players.

"So acold there's been large willingness to play disconnected of each different and to work each other," Lakers manager Vogel said successful the pre-season of the James-Westbrook fit.

"And it's truly been beauteous seamless successful presumption of who is bringing it, who is initiating wherever guys are going to be. And past evidently playing with 1 different successful two-man action.

"I deliberation that chemistry has been beauteous beardown to start, but there's decidedly a willingness for those guys to stock and to sacrifice and to coexist retired there."

Westbrook is heading into the 4th twelvemonth of a five-year, $206 cardinal max woody helium primitively signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder backmost successful September 2017.

Incredible, the commercialized to the Lakers makes it four antithetic teams successful the archetypal 4 years of that deal.

Last season: 20.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists per game, 40.4% FG, 31.7% 3PT, 74.9% FT

Persistent injuries person robbed the once-explosive John Wall of his vocation ever since helium signed a monster four-year, $171 cardinal woody with the Washington Wizards successful the summertime of 2017.

Wall was erstwhile considered the look of the Wizards franchise and was 1 of the league's premier constituent guards earlier it each went south.

His troubles began during the 2018-19 play erstwhile helium underwent season-ending bottommost surgery, earlier processing an corruption successful an incision from the surgery.

To marque matters worse, Wall past ruptured his Achilles tendon aft a slipping and falling successful his house, which ruled him retired for a further 12 months.

READ MORE: John Wall reveals amputation fears aft wounded horror

He would upwind up playing conscionable 73 games for the Wizards since signing the hold earlier being flipped to Houston successful speech for Russell Westbrook.

Despite inactive being connected Houston's authoritative roster, Wall is not expected to play for the Rockets via a communal agreement, with Houston committed to a young back-court featuring No.2 prime Jalen Green.

"My occupation is to beryllium a seasoned beingness for these guys, until thing happens," Wall said connected Rockets' Media Day.

"Nobody knows erstwhile that volition be. But my occupation is to mentor these guys arsenic overmuch arsenic possible, support myself successful shape, and hole myself for whenever I get the call, oregon if I do."

Last season: 24.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 10.8 assists per game, 46.6% FG, 36.2% 3PT, 86.1% FT

After enjoying a coagulated opening play successful Brooklyn pursuing a mid-season trade, James Harden's archetypal twelvemonth retired East was ruined by a hamstring wounded successful the playoffs.

Now afloat steadfast and with the Nets without the unvaccinated Kyrie Irving for the forseeable future, Harden's numbers volition ramp up erstwhile again arsenic helium and Kevin Durant support the Nets afloat.

Like Durant, Harden excessively is eligible to beryllium extended by Brooklyn but has said helium wants to instrumentality his clip with a determination connected his future.

"Honestly, I'm taking my time… I'm focused connected trying to bring a title to this city," helium said.

"But arsenic acold as, you know, an extension, I'm conscionable being diligent with it. I went done a batch past twelvemonth and I privation to marque definite I'm successful the close mindset… yet I privation to beryllium successful Brooklyn for the remainder of my career. So it's nary rush. We're going to person amusive with it."

"You know, I deliberation implicit the people of my career, I've ne'er been a escaped cause before… It's not astir the wealth to me. I'm been connected capable teams wherever we fell short. So my mindset, my extremity is to marque definite that we're capable to physique and proceed to this squad to beryllium capable to vie for multiple, aggregate years astatine the highest level."

"It's not astir the money. If you triumph a title successful New York, the wealth volition come."

Harden has the enactment to beryllium a escaped cause astatine the extremity of this season, possessing a $47 cardinal subordinate enactment for the 2022-23 play the four-year, $171 cardinal woody helium signed with Houston backmost successful July 2017.

Last season: 32.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists per game, 48.2% FG, 42.1% 3PT, 91.6% FT

Stephen Curry enjoyed a redemption play of his ain past year, silencing doubters who questioned if helium could proceed being prolific without All-Star moving mates.

Curry was a one-man offence for the bulk of the play for the Warriors, single-handedly carrying his squad to the play-in tournament.

READ MORE: Curry's unprecedented scoring spree

Having added a 2nd scoring rubric to his glittering resume, the 33-year-old is present erstwhile again acceptable to resume chasing NBA titles with backcourt spouse Klay Thompson acceptable to return.

As helium showed past season, Curry has a crippled that continues to property gracefully.

"Father Time is undefeated, but I deliberation Stephen Curry is going to instrumentality him into overtime," Warriors caput manager Steve Kerr said.

"He's conscionable got this unsocial operation of enactment ethic and joyousness and competitiveness. He's perpetually learning. He's ne'er satisfied. He's ever looking for ways to improve.

"I truly judge that he's got a batch of large hoops near successful him, and that's what is genuinely exciting."

There were immoderate murmurs that Curry could permission Golden State, but helium silenced that by signing a monster four-year, $215 cardinal hold that is each but definite to spot him discontinue successful the Bay.

The bumper woody volition spot him gain an eye-watering $59.6 cardinal successful his last twelvemonth astatine property 37, comfortably a grounds fig successful NBA history.