Every NBA deal, ranked by the Contract Value Index — our grade for what a team actually gets back per dollar committed.
NBA roster-building lives and dies by the cap sheet. A single bloated contract can freeze a front office for years, while one bargain extension can bankroll a title window. This page grades every NBA signing, trade, and extension by what the team gets back per dollar — not by counting stats.
The measuring stick is our Contract Value Index (CVI), FanVerdicts’ flagship contract-value grade. We rank the deals delivering the most value, the ones returning the least, and then isolate the most overpaid contracts from the league’s best-kept bargains.
Because value weighs pay against role and impact, a high-usage star on a supermax can grade below a rotation piece on a minimum — the question is always the gap between the check and the production behind it.
Cuts and releases are excluded — the Contract Value Index is not a valid signal on a non-contract move. Grades reflect value to the team, not raw talent.
Contracts where NBA front offices are getting the most back per dollar. These earn the strongest Contract Value Index (CVI) grades on the board.
| # | Player | Avg / Yr | CVI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick RichardsPhoenix Suns | $5.0M | A+ A+ |
| 2 | Mark WilliamsLos Angeles Lakers | $6.3M | A+ A+ |
| 3 | Tony BradleyIndiana Pacers | $119K | A A |
| 4 | Lawson LoveringMemphis Grizzlies | $119K | A A |
| 5 | Jeremiah Robinson-Dallas Mavericks | $119K | A A |
| 6 | Spencer JonesDenver Nuggets | $559K | A A |
| 7 | Ayo DosunmuMinnesota Timberwolves | $7.5M | A A |
| 8 | Collin SextonCharlotte Hornets | $19.0M | A A |
| 9 | Norman PowellMiami Heat | $20.5M | A A |
| 10 | Nae'Qwan TomlinCleveland Cavaliers | $1.1M | B+ B+ |
| 11 | Russell WestbrookUtah Jazz | $2.3M | B+ B+ |
| 12 | Christian KolokoMemphis Grizzlies | $119K | B B |
The contracts our grading flags as the weakest returns relative to cost — the deals most likely to age poorly.
| # | Player | Avg / Yr | CVI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trae YoungG · Washington Wizards | $47.7M | F F |
| 2 | Damian LillardMilwaukee Bucks | $36.6M | F F |
| 3 |
High average-annual-value contracts carrying a weak CVI grade — big money, light return. Ranked by how far the grade falls and how large the commitment is.
| # | Player | Avg / Yr | CVI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trae YoungG · Washington Wizards | $47.7M | F F |
| 2 | Damian LillardMilwaukee Bucks | $36.6M | F F |
| 3 |
Strong CVI grades on below-median salaries — the bargains a smart front office locked up. The closest thing to a free win on the ledger.
| # | Player | Avg / Yr | CVI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tony BradleyIndiana Pacers | $119K | A A |
| 2 | Lawson LoveringMemphis Grizzlies | $119K | A A |
| 3 |
The Contract Value Index (CVI) is FanVerdicts' grade for how much on-field value a team captures for every dollar of a contract — weighing pay against production, role, and term. It is the platform's flagship contract-value grade. A high CVI grade means the team is winning the deal; a low grade means it is paying a premium it may not recover. Read the full methodology.
Terry RozierMiami Heat |
| $26.6M |
F F |
| 4 | Bogdan BogdanovicBrooklyn Nets | $16.0M | F F |
| 5 | Obi ToppinNew York Knicks | $14.0M | F F |
| 6 | Kelly OlynykWashington Wizards | $13.4M | F F |
| 7 | Gabe VincentAtlanta Hawks | $11.5M | F F |
| 8 | Mike ConleyMinnesota Timberwolves | $1.1M | F F |
| 9 | CJ McCollumG · Atlanta Hawks | $30.7M | D- D- |
| 10 | Pat ConnaughtonCharlotte Hornets | $10.7M | D- D- |
| 11 | Dalen TerryF · New Orleans Pelicans | $5.4M | D- D- |
| 12 | Pat ConnaughtonG · Charlotte Hornets | $2.6M | D- D- |
Terry RozierMiami Heat |
| $26.6M |
F F |
| 4 | Bogdan BogdanovicBrooklyn Nets | $16.0M | F F |
| 5 | Obi ToppinNew York Knicks | $14.0M | F F |
| 6 | Kelly OlynykWashington Wizards | $13.4M | F F |
| 7 | Gabe VincentAtlanta Hawks | $11.5M | F F |
| 8 | Mike ConleyMinnesota Timberwolves | $1.1M | F F |
| 9 | CJ McCollumG · Atlanta Hawks | $30.7M | D- D- |
| 10 | Pat ConnaughtonCharlotte Hornets | $10.7M | D- D- |
Jeremiah Robinson-Dallas Mavericks |
| $119K |
A A |
| 4 | Spencer JonesDenver Nuggets | $559K | A A |
| 5 | Christian KolokoMemphis Grizzlies | $119K | B B |
| 6 | Trevon ScottF · Brooklyn Nets | $121K | B B |
| 7 | Adama BalG · Memphis Grizzlies | $121K | B B |
| 8 | Jahmir YoungG · Miami Heat | $550K | B B |
| 9 | Tolu mightF · Detroit Pistons | $550K | B B |
| 10 | Charles BasseyC · Golden State Warriors | $550K | B B |