Mike Conley is the highest paid player in the NBA. Just let that sink in.
NBA free agency kicked off Friday and players are cashing in more than ever this year. With each team's salary cap increasing, they are offering lucrative deals to players who might not deserve the money that's getting offered.
For example, Timofey Mozgov and Matthew Dellavedova both signed deals with new teams. Both players also played on the Cleveland Cavilers during this year's NBA Finals. The term "played" can be used very loosely because Mozgov averaged 5 minutes, 1.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. Dellavedova averaged 7.7 minutes, 2.7 points and 1 assist per game. Mozgov reached a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers yesterday paying him $64 million over four years and Dellavedova signed with the Milwaukee Bucks for $38.4 million for four years.
To put this in perspective, Mozgov is averaging $16 million a year and Dellavedova is averaging $9.6 million a year. Back-to-back MVP Stephen Curry is currently earning $11 million a year on his contract now. Curry, who has led the league in scoring while leading his team to back-to-back NBA Finals, will be making less money than Mozgov and close to earning the same amount as Dellavedova next year. In this year's Finals, Curry averaged 22.6 points per game and was criticized for not doing enough for his team. The fact that the two-time MVP of the league is getting paid less than someone who averaged 20 points less than him in the finals is insane.
Back to Mike Conley. Conley is a nine-year NBA veteran that has never been an All-Star who averaged 15.3 points and 6.1 assists per game during the 2015-2016 season for the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies signed Conley to a five-year $153 million deal which made him the highest paid player in the NBA. Not Lebron James, not Kevin Durant, not Stephen Curry but Mike Conley.
Relating this to other sports, NFL quarterback Andrew Luck just signed a new contract with the Indianapolis Colts for 6 years $140 million. Luck, unlike Conley, is one of the youngest and brightest stars in the NFL and his contract is seen as well deserved. Everyone knew the Colts' play caller was going to get paid; it was just a question of when. Luck's deal does not surprise much unlike Conley's. He has been to three Pro Bowls, led his team to playoff victories and is seen as the quarterback of the future for Indianapolis. Despite all of this, the leader of the Indianapolis Colts will still makes less money than an aging NBA player in Mike Conley.
Free agency is usually filled with surprises and intriguing news stories but unlike previous years, this year has been headlined by the rising salary cap and huge contracts. With all of the money that has been given out this free agency period one thing is for certain: kids, keep practicing your jump shots.
