The Vertical Front-Office Insider Bobby Marks, a former 20-year executive with the Nets, analyzes the standings based on team salaries and average age.
Team Record Salary Average age*
1. Cleveland 13-2 $129.3M (1) 30.0 (28)
2. Toronto 12-6 $106.7M (9) 25.3 (5)
3. Chicago 10-7 $97.1M (18) 27.3 (19)
4. Charlotte 10-8 $99.7M (13) 26.7 (16)
5. Boston 10-8 $95.8M (20) 25.6 (9)
6. Atlanta 10-9 $98.3M (17) 28.2 (25)
7. Detroit 10-10 $107.9M (7) 26.1 (13)
8. New York 9-9 $102.6M (11) 27.4 (20)
9. Milwaukee 8-8 $98.5M (16) 25.8 (12)
10. Indiana 9-10 $90.0M (23) 27.5 (21)
11. Orlando 7-11 $106.8M (8) 25.4 (6)
12. Washington 6-11 $103.3M (10) 26.1 (14)
13. Miami 6-12 $101.5M (12) 25.7 (11)
14. Brooklyn 5-12 $76.1M (29) 26.9 (18)
15. Philadelphia 4-14 $78.4M (28) 24.9 (3)
*Based on players who average at least 13 minutes per game.
Rankings in parentheses.
The defending champs
The team with the top salary in the NBA has justified the cost with the top record in the East.
Cleveland, with a $129.3 million payroll, also ranks 28th in average age (30.0) among players who average at least 13 minutes per game.
Despite the average age, LeBron James (31) has shown no signs of decline, and Kevin Love (28), Kyrie Irving (24), Tristan Thompson (25) are still in their primes.
Built to win now with youth and veterans
The Toronto Raptors, one of the Cavs’ chief rivals in the East, have one of the youngest teams in the NBA but with the sixth-highest payroll.
Toronto has six players – Cory Joseph, Terrence Ross, Pascal Siakam, Lucas Nogueira, Jakob Poeltl and Norman Powell – under 25 who either start or are part of the rotation.
The Raptors have only two players who are 30: Kyle Lowry and DeMarre Carroll.
Expensive and outside the playoff race
Orlando and Washington, a combined 13-22, aren’t showing much with salaries that total $210 million.
After shifting from building through the draft with the Serge Ibaka trade, Orlando still ranks as the sixth-youngest team in the NBA and is coming off an impressive win Tuesday at San Antonio.
Although the Heat – like Orlando and Washington – have a $101 million payroll and a poor record, Miami could get cap relief if it elects to remove Chris Bosh’s salary in February.
If that happens, Miami would fall from 11th to 27th in total salary.
Western Conference
Team Record Salaries Average age*
1. Golden State 16-2 $99.6M (14) 27.7 (22)
2. San Antonio 15-4 $108.2M (6) 30.2 (29)
3. LA Clippers 14-5 $114.7M (2) 30.6 (30)
4. Houston 11-7 $94.8M (21) 27.7 (23)
5. Oklahoma City 12-8 $86.9M (24) 23.8 (2)
6. Memphis 11-8 $110.3M (5) 28.4 (26)
7. Utah 11-8 $80.5M (27) 26.8 (17)
8. Portland 10-10 $112.8M (3) 25.4 (7)
9. L.A. Lakers 10-10 $93.6M (22) 26.4 (15)
10. Denver 7-11 $75.2M (30) 25.0 (4)
11. Sacramento 7-11 $96.2M (19) 28.1 (24)
12. New Orleans 7-12 $99.6M (15) 25.6 (8)
13. Phoenix 5-13 $81.4M (26) 25.7 (10)
14. Minnesota 5-13 $81.8M (25) 23.2 (1)
15. Dallas 3-14 $110.9M (4) 28.6 (27)
*Based on players who average at least 13 minutes per game.
Rankings in parentheses.
The best in the West
How can a team that has reached the NBA Finals in consecutive years, features four All-Stars and has a 16-2 record not be in the top 10 in salaries?
Well, Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson didn’t sign max contracts, and Kevin Durant was signed with cap space.
In free agency, the Warriors signed David West, Anderson Varejao, JaVale McGee, James McAdoo and Ian Clark to minimum exceptions, and Zaza Pachulia to the $2.8 million room mid-level. They also drafted Damian Jones and Patrick McCaw.
The Warriors rank 14th in salary but that will likely rise next season with the pending free agencies of Curry and Durant.
Though the Warriors rank 22nd in age, Curry (28), Durant (28), Thompson (26) and Green (26) are still in their primes.
Russell Westbrook and the young core
Durant’s former team features a combination of youth (second-youngest contributors) and an inexpensive payroll ($86.9 million), along with MVP candidate Russell Westbrook.
The Thunder’s draft-night trade of Serge Ibaka to Orlando allowed them to move the 27-year-old center with an expiring contract for two young and inexpensive starters: Victor Oladipo (24) and rookie Domantas Sabonis (20).
Trouble in Big D
Dallas’ reliance on free agency and a win-now mentality has left it in a tough spot.
Though the Mavericks won an NBA championship in 2011, they have been hurt by trading first-round picks (2014 and 2016), missed opportunities in the first round (Shane Larkin, Jared Cunningham and Dominique Jones), quick-fix trades (Rajon Rondo) and free-agency failures.
The Mavericks (3-14) have the fourth-highest payroll ($110.9 million) and an aging roster that has been hampered by injuries.
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