1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers $24.8 million Bryant is the NBA's top-paid player for the first time this season. The $83.5 million, three-year extension he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in April assures he will stay on top through the 2013-14 season. 2. Rashard Lewis, Orlando Magic $20.5 million Lewis signed a $118 million, six-year deal as a free agent in 2007 after nine seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics. Lewis has seen his scoring average decline three straight years. 3. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics $18.8 million Garnett's massive $126 million contract signed during his third season in the league was a major reason behind the NBA lockout that shortened the 1998-99 season. The Big Ticket was the league's highest-paid player for three straight years until Tracy McGrady took the title last season. 4. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs $18.7 million Duncan can make a strong case as the greatest power forward to ever play the game with four titles, two MVP awards and nine selections to the All-NBA first team. His current contract with the Spurs expires after next season. 5. Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks $18.3 million The Bucks' sharpshooter has seen his last two seasons cut short by serious knee injuries. Redd's salary is likely to take a major haircut when his six-year, $90 million deal expires after this season. 6. Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers $17.8 million Gasol and Bryant are both under contract with the Lakers through the 2013-14 season. Gasol signed an extension during last season that added three years and $60 million to his existing deal. 6. Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Jazz $17.8 million Kirilenko is nicknamed AK-47 for his initials and number with the Jazz (he was also born in Russia, home to the famous assault rifle). He fills up a stat sheet with rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, but his production hasn't matched the $86 million deal he signed in 2004. 8. Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards $17.7 million Injuries and a suspension for bringing guns into the locker room forced Agent Zero to miss 80% of his team's games since signing a $111 million deal in 2008. His contract with three-plus years left on it might be the most impossible to trade in the league. 9. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets $17.7 million Yao is one of the best centers in the game when healthy, but he was sidelined all of last season with a broken foot. Yao is in the final year of his contract with the Rockets and will have to prove he is healthy to command another big ticket contract. 10. Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies $17.3 million Randolph has had a checkered NBA career and never lived up to the $84 million, six-year deal he signed in 2004. He had his most success last season when he made his first All-Star team and led the Grizzlies to a 16-game improvement in the win column. http://www.forbes.com/2010/11/04/nba-best-paid-players-business-sportsmoney-nba-top-paid-players_slide.html Looks like Michael Redd is this years Tracy McGrady, I wonder if the Bucks are looking for a big trade or simply letting him expire to test free agency.
Every year there's at least 3 ridiculous names on the list. One reason the NBA wants to knock the max deals down to 4 years per. Rashard is the only seriously dumb one on the list.
Redd is at least Rashard is playing for the Magic, the Bucks pretty much asked Redd to stay at home. man imagine if the Magic didnt give such a huge deal to Lewis and were able to use that money instead to pay for another solid role guy...dang they could have been even more dangerous than they are now
OMG! Look at that top ten list, some pretty crappy players right now except Kobe. I knew Lewis had over a $100mil contract but 2nd highest paid player. That's down right laughable right there.
what do you expect with long-term contracts? it's not like the 10 highest paid players are going to be the best...
Noway we will be paying Yao that kind of money again. You dont forkout that much dough on a player on a steep decline.
But, for 3 of those -- Lewis, Redd, and Arenas -- I knew the day they signed the contract that it was going to be an albatross.
unfortunately someone outside of Houston or a Rockets fan can say the same for Yao... well that is not looking at all the chinese fans he brings to the table but strictly from a basketball perspective
